PM completes one year, Cong draws ire

8220;Congress has been thoroughly exposed by deciding to oppose the ratification of statutory resolution on President8217;s Rule in the Rajya Sabha,8221; he observed. To a question why Congress members had of late been adopting an aggressive posture by trooping into the well of the Lok Sabha, Vajpayee said it appeared that its members had been told to be aggressive to make up for the mistake the party had committed on the Bihar issue.

Vajpayee asserted that although his Government was opposed to misuse ofArticle 356, it found Bihar a fit case for the imposition of Central rule and even his critics agreed with the decision. 8220;What was done by the Congress was politically motivated,8221; he added.

It was also felt by the Congress that if the BJP-led Government remained in office for one or two years more, its return to power would be difficult, he added.

He foresaw the possibility of realignment of political forces, but asserted that there was no alternative to the BJP-led Government.

8220;We are passing through a period of transition but alignments will change. There will be a better arrangement,8221; Vajpayee noted.

Defending his coalition partners against the charge of brinkmanship, he said the regional parties had come to stay. 8220;But they should develop an all-India outlook,8221; he said. Even if there was no coalition, the country had to run on the basis of consensus, he added.

The Prime Minister also dwelt at length on his historic bus visit to Lahore and Indo-Pak relations. While expressing the hope thatPakistan would change its stand on Kashmir, he said India had accepted the partition of the sub-continent in 1947.

8220;I hope this attitude towards Kashmir will change. Our relations in other areas will develop. The forces of peace will gain strength and geophysical scenario will change,8221; Vajpayee remarked.

His visit to Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore, he said was to 8220;tell people of Pakistan that we have accepted Partition and they should have no apprehensions.8221; He was responding to a question whether the visit to the monument was reflective of the 8220;battle within the Sangh Parivar, which had been advocating the theory of akhand Bharat.8221; He further said his visit had nothing to do with the Parivar.

Asked if India was following a blow hot, blow cold8217; policy towards Pakistan, first by conducting nuclear tests and then taking a bus to Lahore, Vajpayee remarked: 8220;Strength is the prerequisite for friendship. We should forge friendship on the basis of equality, not weakness.8221;

He added: 8220;First oursecurity and then extend the hand of friendship. Now that both countries have nuclear weapons, there is no alternative but to remain friendly.8221; He ruled out the possibility of a confederation comprising India and Pakistan.