The Hindu : New Delhi News : BJP lacks issues, we will secure majority: Sheila

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Friday, Nov 14, 2008
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BJP lacks issues, we will secure majority: Sheila

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Delhi Chief Minister accuses the BJP of communalising the elections through its advertisement campaign

- Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

Campaign trail: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit campaigning in New Delhi constituency for the forthcoming Assembly elections on Thursday.

NEW DELHI: With the process of selection of candidates and filing of nominations for the Delhi Assembly elections now over, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is gearing up for the battle ahead and promises to take the fight into the opposition camp. She is confident that the Congress would again secure a “comfortable majority” as both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party lack issues to fight the polls with.

Talking to The Hindu, Ms. Dikshit attacked the BJP for communalising the elections through its advertisement campaign. “I was just waiting for them to place their advertisements and I find their propaganda to be very communal. They have only spoken about terrorism and Bangladesh nationals as if development does not matter to them.”

“They talk of terrorism but fail to explain the terrorist strikes in BJP-ruled States like Gujarat, Karnataka and Rajasthan. Likewise, they raise the issue of hanging of Afzal Guru when the decision on whether he should be hanged or not rests with the President. Also, it should not be forgotten that he is still in jail and the situation is very different from when a BJP Minister had personally gone to Afghanistan and released five dreaded terrorists there,” she added.

As for the Bangladesh nationals, Ms. Dikshit said: “The BJP should explain what it did to address the issue when it was in power at the Centre.”

‘Stable government’

As for the Congress, she said it has given Delhi a stable government by retaining the same person as Chief Minister for ten years unlike the BJP that had changed three Chief Ministers in five years. She also claimed that her government had done its bit providing amenities in unauthorised colonies and undertaking development works in all spheres.

The Chief Minister during her campaign would also take on Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra for making such claims as “he started the Delhi Metro in 1970”. Angry at such tactics, Ms. Dikshit said the BJP had no real weapon to attack the Congress with. “They talk about corruption, but I want them to point out specifically if they know of any. Also, they question where is development, when it is there for all to see.”

‘No agenda’

About the BSP, the Chief Minister wondered what its agenda for Delhi was. “Or is it just a spoiler?” she asked.

Confident that the Congress would secure a comfortable and absolute majority, Ms. Dikshit said she believes that the prospects of the party would improve once campaigning picks up in the next couple of days.

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