Advani promises religious tours if voted to power

Sonepur (Orissa)/ Gaya/Sholapur (Maharashtra), Apr 1 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishna Advani has promised religious tours for people, if voted to power.

"If BJP gets an opportunity to form the Central Government, our department of tourism will have a special section that will specialise in religious tourism," Advani said at an election meeting at Sonepur in Orissa.

BJP has in the past opposed grant of subsidy by the Central Government to Muslim Haj pilgrims and if not, then the government should extend similar subsidies to Hindu pilgrims to Mansarovar in Tibet and other domestic pilgrimages.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, took pot shots at Advani, saying he is not destined to become a Prime Minister.

"The NDA is in a bad shape throughout the country. With things that Advani has done like demolishing the Babri mosque and causing the Godhra riots, Prime Ministership is not in his destiny," Lalu Prasad said at an election rally in Gaya.

In Maharashtra, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde filed nominations yesterday for the upcoming general polls.

While Pawar filed his nomination for the reconstituted Madha constituency, Shinde entered the fray from Sholapur. (ANI)