BJP to launch 'Rashtra Jagran Abhiyan' from Feb 11

Nagpur, Feb 6 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will launch a nation-wide campaign 'Rashtra Jagran Abhiyan,' on February 11 to highlight the country's problems and alleged failure of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre to tackle them effectively.

Speaking to mediapersons here today, BJP President Rajnath Singh said the campaign will continue till April and would involve public meetings, rallies and signature campaigns down to the village level.

It will highlight issues like inflation, internal security, vote bank, politics and farmers suicides. The campaign would be followed by a nation-wide 'Jail Bharo Andolan' in April, he said.

Asserting that the UPA government had failed on all fronts, Mr Singh said it prided itself on the increasing growth rate but could not control inflation, which had crossed six per cent. Internal security was worsening with each passing day, with capital New Delhi living under a shadow of terrorism, the BJP President said.

The government was also ignoring the agriculture sector, which accounted for 56.74 per cent of the total employment, he added.

Worse, the government was indulging in minority appeasement, Mr Singh said, describing as 'most unfortunate' the Prime Minister's statement that Muslims had first claim on the country's resources.

''If such policies continue, then the country cannot become strong and prosperous. India can progress only if it followed the philosophy of India First Indian First,'' he said.

In reply to a question, Mr Singh said the BJP would 'either get a clear majority or emerge as the single largest party' at the forthcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh (UP).

Mr Singh, however, refused to comment about his decision to drop Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi from the party executive, saying ''Modi is our star performer. Please do not ask such questions about him.'' Mr Singh was in the city along with party General Secretary Gopinath Munde to address a rally to celebrate the BJP's performance at the recent civic elections here. The BJP won 56 of the 135 seats for which elections were held, with its ally, the Shiv Sena, bagging seven.

UNI