No more talks till PoK returned — PM

He said he had gone to Lahore on a “goodwill mission” to strengthenbilateral ties through talks but Pakistan betrayed India and responded withthe intrusion in Kargil.

Vajpayee also cautioned world leaders against blaming India for not enteringinto a dialogue with Pakistan, saying: “My offer is open and it is forPakistan to take up or reject the proposal.”

The Congress and the ruling RJD were prime targets in Vajpayee’s speech. Heaccused the Congress of patronising Laloo’s corrupt regime when the Centrehad initiated proceedings to dismiss it from power by imposing President’sRule.

Unlike in Orissa, however, Vajpayee did not name any NDA chiefminister-designate for Bihar. He only assured the gathering that thecontentious issue will be sorted out amicably between the NDA members. Biharpolitics, he predicted, was set to turn over a new leaf and people mustrecognise the importance of their role in contributing to the change andvote according to the needs of the state.

Vajpayee further lambasted Laloo and the Rabri Devi government for theirfailure to maintain law and order in the state and provide security to thecommon people. Laying emphasis on development, he said the present regimehad to be overthrown for Bihar to make any sort of progress.

Incidentally, development seems to have become the key word in electionspeeches throughout Bihar. Politicians who earlier appealed for votes on thebasis of caste, sub-caste and religion, are now talking of development in abig way.

Throughout the seven assembly constituencies of Mithilanchal, people havebeen seeking an explanation from the ruling party for its failure to evolvea permanent strategy to meet the threat of floods. Roads are in primitivecondition and whenever any politician talks of improving roads, he or she islustily cheered by the people.

The mood of the people is fast changing in the Mithilanchal region. Even theYadavs, who stood solidly behind Laloo in the Lok Sabha polls, are dividedon local development issues. Even the Muslims seem to be looking elsewhere.The four crore-strong Maithili-speaking people of seven constituencies,mayspring a surprise this time too. The NDA won the three Lok Sabha seats andhopes to shore up this achievement in assembly polls too.