No compromise to stay in power — PM

Urging all political parties to act and behave responsibly, he said that history would not pardon any acts that harmed the national interest. “Are frequent elections good for the country?” he asked.

Referring to the Cauverydispute, which has the potential to bring his Government down soon if the AIADMK remains adamantly opposed to the accord, Vajpayee said that maturity, harmony, tolerance, patriotism and willingness to keep others’ interests in mind were necessary.

The recent Cauvery accord epitomised these qualities, he said. He also promised a National Water Policy but cautioned that it would be possible only with everybody’s cooperation and patience.

A poet himself, Vajpayee quoted three Hindi poems that reflected his state of mind, including one about being at a crossroads. But the most significant was his own, which reflected his fighting mood : “Haar nahin manoonga, raah nayee thanoonga; Kaal ke kapaal pe likhta, mitta hoon, geet naya gata hoon (I will not accept defeat, I will start the struggle afresh; I will write and unwrite my destiny afresh, I will sing a new song).

The PM also sought to allay fears about the BJP’s Hindutva ideology by averring that his Government opposed communalism “in any form”. This isthe first time that a BJP prime minister unfurled the tricolour from Red Fort.

Independence, national integration, democracy and secularism were complementary to each other, Vajpayee said, and promised to ensure full security to minorities and their participation in development. Vajpayee referred to the Pokharan tests and reiterated India’s commitment to world peace and disarmament. India had voluntarily declared a unilateral moratorium on further tests, he said, adding nuclear arms would never be used to attack anyone.

He also renewed his offer to Pakistan to hold talks on any subject, at any level and at any time. Expressing unhappiness that Pakistan had not given the “desired response” at the SAARC summit, he said he would make another effort at the NAM meeting.