The Hindu : NDA common agenda buried, says Gowda

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 21, 2003

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NDA common agenda buried, says Gowda

Thane July 20. The former Prime Minister, Deve Gowda, today alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party, which had kept aside the issue of Ram Temple and Ayodhya for four-and-a-half years, was once again raising it on the eve of elections for approaching the people with emotional issues.

Talking to reporters here after attending the state executive committee meeting of the Janata Dal (Secular), he said, ``the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has gone back on his words by once again raising the issue of the Ram Temple and Ayodhya."

The common agenda of the NDA of 23 parties is buried and had gone down the drain, Mr. Gowda said, adding that, "On account of this the NDA allies are humiliated and deceived by the Prime Minister."

On the restart of the bus service to Lahore, he said ``this is akhri icha (last wish) of the Prime Minister and let him try."

Referring to the reported alleged distribution of trishul by the VHP leader, Pravin Togadia, here last evening, Mr. Gowda wondered on the purpose of such distribution and said he was "against distribution of even lathis". — PTI, UNI

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