Date:05/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/05/stories/2008050560431200.htm

National

BJP to launch stir in Gujarat

Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD: The ruling BJP in Gujarat has decided to launch an agitation against the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre on the issue of price rise.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the state executive of the party here on Sunday in the presence of Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L. K. Advani, who was on a day’s visit to the State.

The party spokesman, I. K. Jadeja, said the agitation would be launched from May 10 and would continue for three months during which the BJP would give various programmes from time to time to highlight the problems faced by the common people due to price rise . The executive disagreed with the Congress party’s contentions that the State governments were responsible for the price rise and held the “faulty policies” of the UPA government responsible for the inflation and hardships to the people.

The executive also decided to make the “kisan rath” programme of the State government, to start from May 7, a success. “Village observers” appointed by the party in each village will motivate the farmers to shift to modern techniques of farming. The “kisan rath” is due to move around the State visiting every village before the onset of monsoon to educate the farmers about modern farming technologies and the crop pattern based on different types of soil.

Mr. Advani and Mr. Modi also inaugurated the “Hall of Space and Hall of Science,” the new attractions added, at the Gujarat Science City, a venture of the State government to popularise science.