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Vajpayee advocates Ram temple cause in Himachal campaign
Mandi (Himachal Pradesh), Feb 20: Playing the `Hindutva` card, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today advocated the cause of Ram temple in Ayodhaya and said he would prefer to die than eat beef.
Mandi (Himachal Pradesh), Feb 20: Playing the "Hindutva" card, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today advocated the cause of Ram temple in Ayodhaya and said he
would prefer to die than eat beef.
"We want to build the Ram temple at Ayodhaya . We are
confident that it will be proved by historical evidence that
there existed a temple," he said addressing his first election
rally in Himachal Pradesh.
"However if it is not then let the courts decide and we will abide by it. Let Congress say whether it will accept the verdict if the existence of Ram temple is proved," he said.
He dared Congress to clarify its position on Ayodhaya and cow slaughter.
Stung by the reported allegation of Congress in MP that he ate beef, Vajpayee said "I prefer to die rather than eat beef. Though cow slaughter in most of the country is banned, he will enact legislation to fill the loophole".
The Prime Minister said he has written about all the allegations levelled against him by the Congress in Madhya Pradesh to Sonia Gandhi "but she has not responded. Do ask her when she comes here," he urged the audience.
In an apparent reference to the sex scandals allegedly involving Punjab ministers, Vajpayee said "women are being humiliated. It should not happen. Women should be respected."
Regretting the declining standards of political discourse in the country, Vajpayee said "I feel sad. We have never indulged in mud-slinging because we don't have mud with us. Our unity as a nation should not be affected at any cost".
Vajpayee also ruled out resumption of dialogue with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.
Vajpayee asked the Congress to get used to sitting in the opposition for atleast 20 years more as BJP has remained there for almost 45 years.
Asserting that India wanted friendship with Pakistan, he said while he was holding talks with the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore, the then Pakistan army chief Gen Pervez Musharraf was planning an attack on India.
"Who will trust them. We have been getting invitations for talks but will we be discussing the climate. They want to discuss Kashmir. For the first time, free and fair polls have been held in Kashmir and people have given their statement. There has been a major change there", he said.
Vajpayee, who described Himachal Pradesh as "a second home" also sought people's mandate for incumbent Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.
On the development plank, he said, "they should elect a government which is not at loggerheads with the Centre"
In a veiled reference to the presence of rebel BJP candidates, he said, "if someone cannot belong to one's own party, how can he belong to the whole country".
Urging people not to give a fractured mandate, he also took care to praise former Chief Minister and current present Union minister Shanta Kumar .
Talking about the tourism and power potential of Himachal, he asserted that India conducted a nuclear test in Pokhran "to tap atomic power and for our own defence rather than threatening anyone".
The government was working towards making the country self-sufficient in fuel. Bureau Report
"However if it is not then let the courts decide and we will abide by it. Let Congress say whether it will accept the verdict if the existence of Ram temple is proved," he said.
He dared Congress to clarify its position on Ayodhaya and cow slaughter.
Stung by the reported allegation of Congress in MP that he ate beef, Vajpayee said "I prefer to die rather than eat beef. Though cow slaughter in most of the country is banned, he will enact legislation to fill the loophole".
The Prime Minister said he has written about all the allegations levelled against him by the Congress in Madhya Pradesh to Sonia Gandhi "but she has not responded. Do ask her when she comes here," he urged the audience.
In an apparent reference to the sex scandals allegedly involving Punjab ministers, Vajpayee said "women are being humiliated. It should not happen. Women should be respected."
Regretting the declining standards of political discourse in the country, Vajpayee said "I feel sad. We have never indulged in mud-slinging because we don't have mud with us. Our unity as a nation should not be affected at any cost".
Vajpayee also ruled out resumption of dialogue with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.
Vajpayee asked the Congress to get used to sitting in the opposition for atleast 20 years more as BJP has remained there for almost 45 years.
Asserting that India wanted friendship with Pakistan, he said while he was holding talks with the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore, the then Pakistan army chief Gen Pervez Musharraf was planning an attack on India.
"Who will trust them. We have been getting invitations for talks but will we be discussing the climate. They want to discuss Kashmir. For the first time, free and fair polls have been held in Kashmir and people have given their statement. There has been a major change there", he said.
Vajpayee, who described Himachal Pradesh as "a second home" also sought people's mandate for incumbent Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.
On the development plank, he said, "they should elect a government which is not at loggerheads with the Centre"
In a veiled reference to the presence of rebel BJP candidates, he said, "if someone cannot belong to one's own party, how can he belong to the whole country".
Urging people not to give a fractured mandate, he also took care to praise former Chief Minister and current present Union minister Shanta Kumar .
Talking about the tourism and power potential of Himachal, he asserted that India conducted a nuclear test in Pokhran "to tap atomic power and for our own defence rather than threatening anyone".
The government was working towards making the country self-sufficient in fuel. Bureau Report