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War of words continues

By Neena Vyas

RAIPUR JULY 20. The two major political parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, have virtually locked horns, both defending their own leaders while fiercely launching attacks on each other.

The BJP today strongly criticised the Congress for its statement on Saturday, suggesting that the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, was old and ill and would be better off if he took time off to rest rather than try and lead the country.

On Friday, the BJP general secretary, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, had suggested that an India-born leader would "naturally be more sensitive to and more responsible on issues of national interest."

The BJP general secretary and spokesperson, Pramod Mahajan, today responded to the statement of Congress spokesperson, Jaipal Reddy, saying the comments about Mr. Vajpayee's age and health "reflected the uncivilised and perverse culture of the Congress" and were out of sync with Indian culture which had always respected elders because of their experience, wisdom and contribution to the nation.

Mr. Mahajan said, "it seems that the Congress has not only imposed an inexperienced leader of a foreign origin who has made no contribution towards the nation worth mentioning, but has also discarded the culture of India."

Our New Delhi Special Correspondent reports:

Reacting to Mr. Mahajan's comments on Indian tradition, the Congress today retorted saying:

"We do respect elderly people, but in Indian tradition senior people, after a certain age, take `sanyas'''. Jaipal Reddy said he wished to remind Mr. Mahajan of this important aspect of India's glorious tradition.

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