Date:21/01/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/21/stories/2003012103191300.htm

National

Paswan targets BJP

By Our Special Correspondent

NAHAN (H.P) JAN. 20. Having opted out from contesting the Gujarat Assembly elections, the Lok Janshakti Party has preferred to go it alone in Himachal Pradesh. With the State scheduled to elect members to its 68-member Assembly on February 26, the Lok Janshakti has launched its campaign in an attempt to create a space for itself. And as part of the effort, it held a public rally here today. Traditionally, the contest in Himachal Pradesh has been between the Congress and the BJP but the situation altered during the 1998 Assembly elections when another former Union Minister, Sukh Ram floated the Himachal Vikas Congress. Mr. Ram is attempting to work out seat adjustments with it, while talking of a `third front'. It is another matter that the HVC has been part of the National Democratic Alliance and shares power with the BJP in the State.

Meanwhile, Mr. Paswan, who quit the NDA over Gujarat is trying to re-work his strategy. Even though till date his party has to challenge both the BJP and the Congress, today he focused on the shortcomings of the Vajpayee Government at the Centre and the P.K. Dhumal-led Government in the State. While taking on the BJP for preferring to talk of `cultural nationalism' and the `Hindutva' campaign, he said the party has raised these issues having failed on all other fronts.

He warned that the attempt by the BJP to feed the people on religion would have disastrous consequences. `Instead of using religion to light a lamp, the BJP was using it to kindle flames', he said.

Far from creating jobs for the unemployed millions, the disinvestment policy has only seen selling of assets created over the years.

Mr. Paswan demanded that the Prime Minister explain to the nation where the Rs. 29,000 crore funds raised by the Government from disinvestment went.

Mr. Paswan also had a dig at the U. P. Chief Minister, Mayawati. He charged that while she came to power promising a better life for the Dalits, in practice she did little for them.