Press Statement issued by
BJP National President Shri Rajnath Singh

At Bangalore

BJP seeks a mandate for development and against betrayal

The ongoing assembly elections in Karnataka have gained significance for reasons more than one.

During the recent months the people of Karnataka had a glimpse of certain political parties which not only justified betrayal and oportunitism in the name of power politics but also validated blackmailing as an integral part of coalition politics.

These shameless acts have further worsened the crisis of credibility that has plagued the country’s political scenario for many years.

We are however satisfied that the BJP had fulfilled its commitments towards the dharma of coalition. The BJP has been ditched but the BJP never took any step that may have led to a breach of trust.

I am confident that the BJP will emerge victorious in these assembly elections as the people of Karnataka are ready to reject the politics of betrayal and gross opportunitism practised by the Congress and its fraternity of so called secular parties.

Internal Security: UPA’s saga of abject failure

Ever since the UPA Government came to power, terrorism has been successful in spreading its nefarious design all over the country.

The UPA Government’s approach has been casual while dealing with terror and other anti-India activities.

The existence of more than 5000 sleeper modules in almost all parts of the country is a clear indication that India is virtually sitting on a tinder box.
UPA Government has adopted a soft attitude towards internal security creating a situation where the self-confidence of the terrorists increases and the self-confidence of the security forces reduces.

The repeal of POTA and the delay in hanging Afzal Guru has further encouraged terrorists and other anti national elements to carry out their activities without much fear. The Government has been saying that the President of India is yet to decide on the issue of clemency to Afzal, the main convict of attack on Parliament House.

But a recently published book, ‘The Kalam Effect: My days with President’ written by Shri P M Nair, the Secretary to the then President DR. APJ Kalam, has disclosed that the Home Ministry sat over Afzal Guru's mercy petition and did not send its recommendation to President Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam till his last day in office.

According to the US State Department’s annual report on Global Terrorism in 2007, “India continued to rank among the world’s most terror-afflicted countries. It took more than 2,300 lives this year.” This figure is nearly 10 percent of the total 22,685 people killed by terrorists in the world in 2007.

BJP has been critical and vociferously opposed to the UPA’s soft policy against terror. I demand the UPA Government to immediately chalk out a comprehensive and integrated Action Plan against terrorism after taking all major political parties into confidence.

Agricultural loan waiver makes a mockery of farmers

The General Budget 2008-09 has proved to be a big disappointment on many accounts. Much noise was made on the issue of loan waiver to farmers. According to un-denied reports the amount of wavier is only Rs 23000 crores. But the Finance Minister has been talking about Rs 60000 crores for loan waiver. Therefore the FM should inform the country where from he got the figure of Rs 60000 crores

The so called benefit to the farmers is actually very minimal. If we compare the loan waiver and the income tax waiver provided in the Budget 2008-09 we find that the loan waiver per head is Rs 4500 and the tax waiver for those who have Rs 2 lac income is over Rs 6000 at the minimum and the waiver for those whose income is Rs 20 lacs is – believe it – Rs 49500! It makes mockery of the claim that it is a farmers' budget.

The loan waiver scheme is insufficient and ineffective. It has failed to generate hope and confidence among the debt ridden farmers in the country. More than 200 farmers committed suicide in different parts of the country even after the announcement of the loan wavier. I demand the UPA Government to come up with a ten year plan on Agriculture which should be discussed in a special session of Parliament.

Spiralling prices spell doom for UPA

Almost all sections of the society, be it women, poor, labourers, farmers, Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, felt betrayed or disappointed in the past four years of UPA rule.

UPA Government's biggest failure has been on the inflation front. It has not only lost the battle against high inflation but also failed to provide relief to people in fulfilling their basic requirements of ROTI KAPDA and MAKAN in spite of having three renowned economists at the helm of affairs.

It has been proved time and again that the moment Congress party comes to power the prices of all essential commodities start moving upwards. Therefore it is pertinent to ask the Congress party a question that why it has become synonymous with high rate of inflation and spiralling prices.

Recently the Finance Minister Shri P Chidambaram said that high growth rate and low rate of inflation could not be achieved at the same time.

It is clear that he is not willing to admit his failure in controlling spiraling prices of essential commodities. Each and every one is aware that during Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee led NDA regime high growth rate and low rate of inflation were maintained simultaneously.

BJP a natural choice for good governance

I proudly believe that if any political party in India can deliver on all the fronts including good governance, it has to be the Bharatiya Janata Party. I have no hesitation in saying that the BJP is a natural choice for voters when they vote on the issue of good governance.

Good governance is an important issue in the Karnataka Assembly elections.

BJP’s track record on development has been exemplary whenever given opportunity in the States or at the Centre. It is a well known fact that the BJP led NDA Government at the Centre unleashed the true potential of the country.

During the NDA regime India emerged as an IT giant with Bangalore as its hub.

BJP ruled states are the top rankers when it comes to implementation of Central welfare schemes like NREG.

The much acclaimed growth rate of the UPA Government will give you a different picture if State wise figures are taken into consideration.

The States ruled by the BJP or the NDA have a much higher growth rate than the States ruled by the Congress or UPA constituents.

Gujarat is a State which BJP ruled for 12 years. When people analyse the 12 years of BJP rule in Gujarat with 30 years of CPM rule in West Bengal or15 years of RJD rule in Bihar or with 10 years of Congress rule in Madhya Pradesh, they find a stark contrast between the Governments run by other parties and by the BJP.

If we compare the development undertaken by the BJP led NDA Government in 6 years and by the Congress for nearly 50 years it becomes evident that only the BJP led NDA could provide a meaningful and sustainable development since Independence.

I appeal to all voters of Karnataka that they should respond to the call of making Karnataka a model state for good governance. I would specially appeal to the youth of Karnataka that they should become the votaries of change and advocates of good governance.

The BJP promises the people of Karnataka that it would leave no stone unturned in ushering in an era of comprehensive development in the State and no section of the society would be left untouched from its effect.