New Delhi, Aug 09: Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today voiced confidence that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would be re-elected in the next Lok Sabha polls to lead the country to complete BJP's vision to make India a developed nation by 2020. "Between 1988 and 1998, India has had seven prime ministers. However, since 1998, the Vajpayee government has brought about stability and good governance," he said at a conclave of retired senior defence officers here organised by BJP's defence cell.
"The people of India would once again elect Atal Bihari Vajpayee to lead the nation and complete BJP's vision of making India a developed country by 2020 as also a resurgent and self-confident nation free from negativism and cynicism," Advani said.
Observing that ex-servicemen and armed forces personnel had always been "attracted" by the ideology and principles of BJP, he said despite decline in values in the last 50 years, the armed forces were the only section which continued to maintain the tradition of strong ideals and values.
Recalling his meeting with former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto a few months before the visit of general Pervez Musharraf, Advani said Bhutto was categorical that one of the major reasons behind India's development was the apolitical nature of its armed forces.
Finance Minister Jaswant Singh also addressed the gathering earlier. Bureau Report