KANPUR: Chandra Shekhar cautioned the people against those trying to inject “religion” into the forthcoming elections.

Addressing a public meeting at village Purwa, about ten km from here in Uttar Pradesh state, the prime minister said that some people wanted to “mix religion with politics” and expressed the hope that the masses would not be misled by them.

Chandra Shekhar said that some people were unhappy over the decision of the government to hold elections in Punjab and Assam and wondered how long the people of these states could be deprived of democratic nights.

Ninety per cent of the people in the two states were in favor of holding of elections, he said. Shekhar later said issues like Punjab, Assam and Ram Janmabhoomi Masjid could have been solved had its government remained in power for another six months.

He said he had initiated efforts to solve the issues through negotiations. He reiterated that the Ram temple at Ayodhya could be built without harming the mosque.

The prime minister said some people want to create an atmosphere of violence in the coming polls and appealed to those indulging in terrorism “not to use their bullets during elections.”

He said they were trying to disintegrate the country by using religion and caste. “But we have to face them boldly.”

NEW DELHE: The National Front manifesto stress is on the theme of social justice.

The manifesto promises to provide a stable government that will promote unity and ensure social equity, 27% job reservations for the backward classes and additional five to 10 percent reservations for the poorer sections of advanced classes. The manifesto was released by the national front leaders V P Singh and NT Rama Rao.

The NF pledged it will take hard decisions after a new government comes to power in India to stem the’ country’s “drift into a debt trap” and to tackle the serious economic situation in the country,

The manifesto of the five-party combine slated to be formally released at a rally in the capital on Sunday after approval by its presidium, said “the Front will not shirk from taking these decisions,”

The front will take all necessary” steps to raise tax yields, cut down government expenditure, put major breaks on luxury consumption and imports.

Article extracted from this publication >> April 19, 1991