Public dialogue paramount to democracy: Advani

Birsinghpur, MP, June 28 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani today said that in a political career spanning more than five decades, he had observed that public dialogue and people-oriented development were paramount to democracy.

''Among my rath yatras, the one from Somnath to Ayodhya profoundly impacted Indian politics,'' he said. The former Deputy Premier was here to inaugurate a 500-MW unit of the Sanjay Gandhi Thermal Power Station. Among those present were Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Energy Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya.

After the Somnath-Ayodhya yatra, Mr Advani undertook a comprehensive rath yatra coinciding with the golden jubilee year of the country's independence.

''Development is an issue that always captivates me. After the BJP's emphatic victory in the 2003 assembly poll in this state, I was stunned to read a newspaper report claiming that 'BSP' facilitated the win. As I read further, it became clear that 'BSP' was bijli (power), sadak (roads) and pani (water). That is the reason why I am enthusiastic about inaugurating any related project in a BJP-ruled state,'' he said.

Pointing out that Mr Vijayvargiya had informed him that he would soon be invited to the inauguration of another power project, Mr Advani praised Gujarat's Narendra Modi regime for fulfilling its promise of supplying round-the-clock power to 18,000 villages.

The ''Madhya Pradesh Chouhan government is also chiefly focussing on the development front. After independence, we obtained 'swaraj' but not 'suraj' (positive rule). Whether a BJP-led alliance is in power in the Centre or BJP government's are in power in the states, attention is always on development,'' he claimed while recalling Jan Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mukherjee's contribution.

Mentioning that he had been informed about Birsinghpur earlier being part of Shahdol district that was partitioned into three districts, Mr Advani added it was important because while there were several districts being represented by three MPs each, a single MP was looking after three districts.

UNI