Was Vajpayee's Lahore journey drama? Congress to BJP

Srinagar, Dec 28 (UNI) A senior Jammu and Kashmir Congress leader today asked the BJP to explain whether former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's bus journey to Lahore and extending a hand of friendship to Pakistan was a ''drama''.

In a statement here, state Congress vice-president Abdul Ghani Vakil described the BJP as an ''opportunistic party, which took advantage of situations and exploited emotions of the people by indulging in gimmickry and skullduggery for party politics and vested interests.'' He said former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani's recent statement about peace initiatives between India and Pakistan exposed the BJP's ''double standards''.

''When in power, the BJP laid no stone unturned to extend a hand of friendship to Pakistan from Srinagar rostrum and Mr Vajpayee travelled to Lahore to present his party as a champion of peace. Was it a drama?'' Mr Vakil asked.

He claimed the UPA government's policies and programmes, being in the interest of the nation, have mass public support. ''The Congress has always sacrificed for national interest and rendered great service to the people and the country.'' Mr Vakil said the Congress has carried the country toward new heights and earned respect for it in the comity of nations. The Congress has made India powerful and strong enough to face any internal or external challenges, he added.

About the recommendations of the Prime Minister's Task Force on Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Vakil said there was an earnest need to implement these in letter and spirit to achieve peace and prosperity for the people of the state.

The Task Force has identified horticulture, tourism and power as sectors with far-reaching impact on socio-economic development of the state. The need of the hour was that attention should be focused on the development of these sectors, he added.

He lauded the role of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in bringing about innovative and drastic changes in the work culture paving way for good governance and transparent management of affairs.

''During Mr Azad's rule, the state has witnessed historical and significant achievements on political, administrative and economic fronts. A new policy-planning drawn and set in process during the past one year has built strong edifice to achieve lasting peace and prosperity in the state,'' the Congress leader added.

He said the people with vested interest were afraid of losing a grip on the situation due to the significant steps taken by Mr Azad to improve the socio-economic condition of the people of the state.

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