PM flays US for pro-Pak bias

BODH GAYA, NOV 8: Charging the United States with discriminating against India'' Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today severely critic...

BODH GAYA, NOV 8: Charging the United States with 8220;discriminating against India8221; Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today severely criticized Washington for 8220;giving more privileges8221; to Pakistan while announcing the partial easing of sanctions. 8220;This is not good in the interest of the entire South Asian region.8221;

8220;Their actions,8221; Vajpayee said, 8220;give the impression that India is untouchable but they must realize that the forces trying to isolate us will ultimately be isolated.8221;

Addressing a huge rally at the Kalchakra grounds here to mark the end of the Buddha Mahotsav, he justified the Pokharan tests saying that they were conducted keeping in mind the 8220;security of the country.8221; He claimed that the partial withdrawal of sanctions had vindicated this stand. In another reference to Washington, he said: 8220;Whatever steps they may initiate against us, we are not going to succumb to their pressure tactics. Washington knows it well that our economy is quite strong.8221;

He said that the sanctions hadvirtually 8220;shattered the economic condition of Pakistan8221; and India had to be 8220;cautious and not allow its economy to face the same fate.8221;

He repeated his stand on disarmament saying that countries which are 8220;sitting on piles of nuclear weapons should stop lecturing India and instead create pressure for disbanding these weapons.8221;

On his first visit to Bihar as Prime Minister, Vajpayee was true to form. He struck a philosophical tone in his speech. 8220;I was never interested in becoming the Prime Minister,8221; he said.

The Bihar government came in for attack when Vajpayee called Bihar a 8220;sick state8221; where a 8220;mafia raj8221; existed and cautioned the Rabri Devi Government not to 8220;indulge in wasteful expenditure of Central money.8221; He said that he was keeping a 8220;close, personal watch on Bihar8221; and referring to what he called an increase in 8220;criminal activities and in politicians patronising criminals,8221; Vajpayee called upon the state government to be 8220;responsible and keep itspromises.8221;

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Taking a dig at CM Rabri Devi who was also present, Vajpayee said: 8220;She should not mind but it is the responsibility of the state government to provide roads to the people. Here there are only potholes in the name of roads and it8217;s difficult to identify which is a road.8221;

No Bias

WASHINGTON: The Clinton administration has challenged India8217;s accusation that the United States is out to favour Pakistan over New Delhi even in the relaxation of its five-month-old nuclear-related economic sanctions. 8220;There is no discrimination. Nor, is there any differentiation,8221; Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian affairs Karl Inderfurth said yesterday, in an obvious reference to the external affairs ministry8217;s statement, alleging a 8221;selective and discriminatory approach,8221; on the part of the United States. India8217;s objection appears to be related to the announcement here on Friday, along with the partial lifting of sanctions.