New Delhi, Feb 25: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today assured the minorities that the National Democratic Alliance government, unlike the previous Congress regimes, had never used them as a vote bank and would continue with this ''non-discriminatory attitude''. ''We believe in peaceful coexistence and the nation can never be a theocratic nation,'' Mr Vajpayee said, addressing the delegates at the BJP minorities development conference. Promising to provide a proactive administration that will not allow anyone to die without food, medicine and hospital facilities, the prime minister said the minorities should think among themselves what was in their interest and arrive at a decision as the nation was at the crossroads. The NDA government was committed to provide equal opportunities for all in education, employment, peace and progress in the society, he added. Mr Vajpayee said India had shrugged off its poor image and economy and the world community was looking at it as an emerging economic giant. The country had not only kept its repayment schedule for huge loans but was clearing many debts through prepayment and had built a 100 billion dollar strong foreign exchange reserve.


He said the fruits of developmental activities like construction of quadrilateral roads bringing about a connectivity revolution in the country would help all citizens and not any particular community. Efforts would be made to connect the rivers for rapid strides in agriculture, transport and power generation.

The Congress, which had thought of this project, had done nothing to make it a reality, he said. ''We promise happiness through peace, progress and development,'' he added.


He exhorted them to give a renewed mandate for the BJP and the NDA by voting for development, peace and progress that was being brought about by his administration.


Bureau Report