Centre discriminating against BJP-ruled states: Rajnath

Shamshabad, MP, June 2 (UNI) Firing a fresh salvo against the Congress-led UPA government, the BJP has alleged that the Centre was discriminating against the BJP-ruled states and said the Centre's ''wrong policies'' were responsible for the recent spurt in prices of essential commodities.

''The Centre is responsible for allotting kerosene quota to different states and the state goverments have no role in it. How could the state cope up with when the Centre was not releasing adequate kerosene for distributing it among the poor'', BJP President Rajnath Singh said at a public meeting here in Vidisha district yesterday after laying the foundation stone of the Rs 135 crore Sanjay Sagar project on the Wah river for irrigating 17,807 hectare area in 40 villages.

Expressing concern over spiralling prices, Mr Singh said the UPA should study how the price level was maintained during the NDA rule.

The BJP President also alleged that the Congress-led UPA government was bringing changes in the country's foreign policy due to mounting pressure from the Left parties. In such a situation, the possibility of worsening of our relations with neighbouring countries could not be ruled out, he added.

Later talking to reporters here, Mr Singh claimed the possibility of mid-term elections to the Lok Sabha could not be ruled out due to internecine quarrel among the UPA constituents, particularly the Leftist parties raising the banner of revolt.

He said the apprehensions expressed by the BJP on the office of profit bill had come true with President A P J Abdul Kalam raising the same points while returning the bill for reconsideration. The Congress should clarify whether its chief Sonia Gandhi would again tender her resignation from the Lok Sabha, he added.

Due to the wrong policies of the Centre, he said, terrorist activities were on the rise and the failed attempt to attack the RSS headquarters at Nagpur was proof of it.

Saying that the BJP also favoured reservation for OBCs. the BJP chief said the party was opposed to the manner in which the Centre was trying to implement reservation in institutes of higher education.

UNI AG-SP VD SSC1426