BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Sunday lashed out the UPA government and accused the Congress of working under American pressure.
Mr Gadkari, while addressing party workers here on the eve of the “Bharat bandh” call given by the Opposition parties, said that the Centre had been pursuing economic policies under the pressure of the US and this was responsible for the abnormally high inflation rate that had touched 13 per cent.
“In neighbouring countries of the continent, the inflation rate is about 2 per cent whereas in India it has touched an all time high. The Congress must explain this since it had promised to check inflation within 100 days of being elected to power but prices have instead increased by 3 to 4 times,” he said.
Lashing out at the Centre for compromising on internal and external security under the US pressure, the BJP president said that while America and European countries had adopted strict rules for giving visa to Indians, the Indian government was roiling out the red carpet for foreigners.
“The US government is pressuring our government to hold talks with Pakistan and is also supplying arms to Pakistan. What kind of a policy is this?” he said.
The BJP president said that China was intruding on Indian land but the Indian government was conveniently turning a blind eye to the problem which may soon acquire huge proportions.
“Similarly infiltration from Bangladesh is another serious issue which the centre refuses to confront,” he stated.
Talking about the growing Naxal problem, Mr Gadkari said that Maoist groups were planning a red corridor from Pashupati in Nepal to Tirupati in India.
“This is not the problem concerning one state and the centre should have formulated a comprehensive strategy to tackle Naxalism but so far, no such step has been taken,” he pointed out.
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No decision yet on Bihar campaign
AGE CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi
BJP president Nitin Gadkari has asserted that it is for the BJP to decide as to whom it should depute for campaigning for the Bihar polls. He said this during an interview by a television channel.
Mr Gadkari said the party doesn’t have to go by the dictates of anybody else. He was referring to the Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who had snubbed the top brass of the BJP by cancelling a dinner after advertisements surfaced in local dailies that showed Nitish and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi holding hands. In the aftermath of that episode, Mr Nitish Kumar had returned Rs 5 crores that was given by Mr Modi for carrying out relief works during the Kosi flood crisis. He, however, added that was a closed chapter.
When asked about the Jinnah controversy and Jaswant Singh not having apologised for his views, Mr Gadkari said it was a closed chapter and that return of leaders like Jaswant would strengthen the party. He also added that Jaswant is loyal to the party. “These are old issues. The issue is closed. Apart from the views, he is loyal to the party. As a person, Mr Jaswant Singh is a good man. He is a senior and experienced leader. At the time of foundation of the party, he was there,” Mr Gadkari said.