Vajpayee wants BJP to replicate its successes in polls

New Delhi, Nov 21: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today expressed his happiness over the victory of the BJP nominees in the recently-concluded byelections to various Lok Sabha seats and Assembly constituencies and asked the party to replicate its performance in the coming elections to four State Assemblies.

Addressing a specially-convened Parliamentary Party meeting on the eve of commencement of Winter Session of Parliament, the senior BJP leader hailed the party's victories in various Lok Sabha seats including Vidisha and Bada Malhera Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh. In Bihar Bhagalpur Lok Sabha seat was retained by the party which fielded former Union Minister Shahnawaz Hussain. BJP's NDA ally the Janata Dal (United) retained Nalanda Lok Sabha seat, BJP Parliamentary Party Spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said.

Leader of Opposition L K Advani explained to the MPs the supreme sacrifice offered by a dozen security men during the December 13, 2001 attack on Parliament which otherwise could have become a catacylsmic disaster for Indian democracy eclipsing even the attack on the twin towers of New York on September 11.

Five Pakistani commandoes were assigned the task of sneaking inside Parliament when the session was on and assassinate all ministers and leaders of all parties across board. The suicide squad could enter the Parliament House but could not set their foot inside Parliament and their plan was foiled by the security personnel, Mr Advani recalled.

Before entering Parliament, the NDA, he said, had decided to assemble near the plaque installed to commemorate the martyrdom of security men and pay floral tribute to the brave men who laid down their lives for saving democracy.

UNI