Joshi lambasts Centre for its weak economic policy

Bhopal, Sep 8 (UNI) Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Murali Manohar Joshi today lambasted the United Progressive Alliance government for weakening the country's economy and failing to tackle inflation.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Joshi said that the inflation figure, which was shown by the Centre, was not real and the people were the worst sufferer of the 'faulty' economic policy of the government.

He stressed the need for a balance among investment, growth and inflation but alleged that the government had failed to do it which results in the decrease of production.

About Amarnath shrine issue, the former Union Minister said that the government's weak policy was exposed and decision of returning back the land could have taken one month earlier.

Expressing concern over the increase of separatism and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Johsi said it would have a long-term impact not only in that state but also in the whole country.

He claimed that the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had created a congenial atmosphere in the valley but the UPA government had spoiled it.

''During this Indepndence Day no tri-colour hoisted in the valley and the government fails to initiate any action,'' Mr Joshi lamented.

He also criticised the government for taking support of the Samajwadi Party, who, he said, were against the banning of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

The government was entangled in peculiar situation as when the left parities supported, it feared to talk about China and now SP was also dictating the terms, Mr Joshi opined.

He also expressed concern over the condition of farmers and said there should be transparency about the government's decision of waiving loan to peasants.

The senior BJP leader suggested that there should be a consensus among all the major parties over all the burning issues and the BJP would go to people in the coming elections, highlighting the 'failure' of the government.

Talking about the future of Indian politics, Mr Joshi said ''In today's scenario no single party is able to form government on its own and it seems the coalition government is inevitable''.

He said that owing to the successive coalition government at Centre, the people were suffering and appealed the people to cast their vote to a single party.

The former union minister said that the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), was a double-edged thing.

About nuclear deal, Mr Joshi said the party was watching the next course of action of the US Congress and if the Prime Minister deviated from his July 18, 2005 speech in Parliament then the party would oppose the deal.

Reacting to the recent attacks on church, the BJP leader felt that conversion by luring the weaker section in the society triggered incidents but "Root cause of such violence has to be seen.'' UNI BDG KV 1501