UPA's 4-yr rule marked 'betrayal' of 'Aam Aadmi'

Hyderabad, May 17: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani today alleged that the Congress-led UPA Government's four-year rule in office marked alleged ''failure on almost all fronts and betrayal of the Aam Aadmi''.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Advani claimed, ''in the case of Andhra Pradesh, it is a double betrayal. Statehood for Telangana formed part of the Congress promise in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections and the ruling party has betrayed the Telangana people on both the price front as well as on the Telangana front.'' He said the Congress sought votes in the 2004 polls in the name of Aam Aadmi. ''Four years later, its betrayal of the common man is most glaringly evident in its total failure to check skyrocketing prices of all essential commdodities and sevices,'' he added.

''Each passing week sees further increase in the rate of inflation, which now stands at a four-year high of 7.83 per cent.

Many economists have noted that the official inflation rate does not fully reflect the true extent of the rise in prices that has taken place under the UPA rule. This is evident, for example from the manner in which the government managed the oil pool account,'' Mr Advani claimed.

The BJP leader said as a result, millions of people, who were pushed Below the Poverty Line (BPL) category, had become poorer.

He alleged that during the present UPA government's tenure, India's rich families, which constituted a tiny-layer of the society, had become incredibly richer.

''According to one estimate, the earnings of 20 Kubers was today more than that of 30 crore Sudamas. I am confident that whenever the Parliamentary elections are held, the people will teach a proper lesson to those who have betrayed them,'' he added.

UNI