From PTI and dispatches
Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi made an attack on the opposition National Front, terming it as antinational and having no interest in solving the problem in Punjab.
Launching the Congress (I) poll campaign in Madhya Pradesh, Gandhi assured the people that if his party was voted to power, it would solve the problem in Punjab. Besides Guarding the country’s unity and integrity, the Congress (I) had accelerated the pace of development and improved the economic condition of the masses, he said.
Asking people to beware of the National Front, an Opposition combine, charged the party with putting certain things in their election manifesto which clearly showed that they supported the Anandpur Sahib resolution the resolution was brought out by secessionists in Punjab, demanding mainly an independent state of Khalistan.
The National Front also wanted to include something in the constitution which would weaken the country and adversely affect its unity and integrity he said.
His government aimed at bringing about changes in the Judicial ‘System to ensure that justice was within the economic reach of people, Gandhi said.
Gandhi alleged that the opposition was trying to break the unity and strength of the country. He said the National Front had posed the main opposition to the Congress Party and that it had no pol icy or programmers in their manifesto for the up liftmen of the country.
The Prime Minister said though there was all round development in all spheres of life, the progress made was not satisfying. He as sure that during the next Eighth Plan his party had decided to give highest priority to agriculture.
He said his party would do everything possible so that poor litigants could get quick and cheap Justice.
He pledged the converting the All India Radio and Doordarshan into corporations for ensuring greater functional autonomy and fight professionalism.
The Manifesto said that electronic media would continue to be owned by Government. The party said that it is commit ted to the freedom of the press as the “essential and indispensable component of our democracy”.
“Without a free press and a free flow of information, there can be no Democracy”, it added vote for development plea by Gandhi fool LD Gandhi.
Gandhi said a vote for the Congress (I) would be a vote for hasten ing the process of development in the country.
A political observer said “look who is talking” after read ing the manifesto. “Look at his temerity. What has he and his mother done but brought about the impending disintegration to India Congress (I) charges opposition with “gross opportunism” Poll Political.
The Congress (I) charged the opposition of using grass opportunism “to smother the growth and development of the nation.”
Communalists and secularists, reactionaries and progressives, nationalists and narrow minded bigots sit together and dream of power” the Congress (I) says in its manifesto.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 10, 1989
