"It is trying to polarise society"
Vajpayee, a liberal politician: Lalu RJD will work with Congress in U.P.
Varanasi: Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party for raking up the Ram temple issue saying it was a "gimmick" of the Opposition party to regain power.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal chief, who was here to offer prayers at the Kashi Viswanath temple, told reporters on Sunday night that the saffron party was trying to create communal frenzy in the country yet again by seeking to polarise society on the Ayodhya issue for electoral gains.
Polarising electorate
Terming the BJP’s stand on the Ayodhya issue an "electoral gimmick", he said, "The BJP’s deliberate attempts to rake up the temple issue ahead of polls in Uttar Pradesh was aimed at polarising the electorate on communal lines but people will foil its designs."
While Mr. Prasad described BJP leader A.B. Vajpayee as a liberal politician, he alleged that L.K. Advani was a fundamentalist.
"Mr. Vajpayee rose to the pinnacle of the political hierarchy due to his stature as the liberal face of the saffron party, while Mr. Advani had always remained a face of the party."
He also attacked the Mulayam Singh Yadav Government for the deteriorating law and order situation and lack of economic development in the State and said his party would work with the Congress in throwing out them from power.
Support for Congress
He said the RJD would contest seats in eastern U.P., while it would support Congress candidates in the remaining seats.
On Rahul Gandhi, he said the young leader’s active role in the State was expected to work in favour of the Congress.
In Mirzapur, Mr. Prasad and his wife offered prayers at the renowned Vindhyachal Dham.
Train halt
The Railway Minister, who avoided media all through his brief visit here, was said to have promised to look into the demand of the locals to halt the Bodh Gaya Express and Garib Rath at Mirzapur for two minutes from January 1. - PTI
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