N-deal compromises sovereignty: BJP

BJP national president Rajanth Singh said here today that the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had mortgaged “sovereignty of the country” through the nuclear deal with the USA. He claimed the Opposition was not taken into confidence on the issue. He said the government had hurt religious sentiments of the Hindus by denying the existence of Lord Ram in connection with the Ram Setu issue.

Addressing the Yuva Garjna rally at the historic Paddal Maidan here today, he said the 50-year Congress rule at the Centre had led to erosion of people’s faith in politicians. He urged the people to vote out the Congress on December 19.

He said it was during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s regime that India exhibited its self-pride by conducting nuclear test, while Congress Prime Minister Narsinma Rao had bowed before the threats of the USA before that. “BJP stands for politics based on moral principles. It does not believe in politics of caste and religion, but the Congress is bent on dividing the country on the basis of religion by giving reservation on the basis of religion to the Muslims. The BJP favours reservation on the basis of economic criterion and not religion and caste,” he claimed.

He said the party was on the comeback trail in the country. “It leads governments in 10 states and is also about to take over Himachal,” he claimed.

He said the terrorists had stated raising their head again after the Congress government withdrew POTA. The UPA government had also failed to control prices of essential commodities, he added.

Like earlier speakers national president Shanta Kumar, former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, Rajnath Singh also did not take up the audio CD issue. However, he said Rs 1.5 crore was spotted in the CM’s office that pointed an accusing finger on the Virbhadra Singh.

He said most of the promises made by the Congress had not been fulfilled. He claimed BJP CMs Shanta Kumar and Prem Kumar Dhumal were better CMs than Virbhadra Singh.

Attacking UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for her statement that they had no magic wand to control rising prices, Shanta Kumar claimed the BJP had controlled prices, launched PM Sarak Nirman Yojna that linked remote areas to the mainstream, launched Antodaya Yojna benefiting over 10 crore poorest of poor in the country, ensured royalty on power projects equal to 12 per cent free power that was yielding Rs 1,464 crore every year to state, provided drinking water to villagers and all this was done without any “jadu ki chhari”.

Criticising Virbhadra Singh government, Prem Kumar Dumal said roads were in bad shape in the state and all developmental works had come to halt. “The youth are frustrated as the Congress promise of giving jobs to them has fallen flat. It has given just 4,622 jobs in the government sector and 9,000 in the private sector during its regime.

Yuva Morcha chief Amit Thakkar, party affairs in charge Satya Pal Jain, party chief Jai Ram Thakur and O.P. Dhankar also spoke on the occasion.