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One hour after the government's fall, we will decide on the new set up: Pawar

Initiating the debate, leader of the Opposition Sharad Pawar welcomed AIADMK supremo J Jayalalitha's decision to withdraw support to the government. The step, according to Pawar, was ''in tune with'' the ''people's disenchantment'' with the 13-month-old Vajpayee government.

He said the Opposition would ''unitedly get a new government for the 21st century'' soon after the BJP-led government was voted out on Saturday. ''One hour after the government's fall, we will decide on the new set up,'' Pawar assured the House.

The government had failed to do anything concrete to ameliorate the problems of poverty and unemployment. Instead, it created new issues on defence, foreign affairs and economic front, he added.

Pawar said the series of attacks against the Christian community ''endorsed by the home minister'' were a blot on the country and its standing in the world.

He accused the prime minister and BJP of attempting to gain ''political mileage' by whipping up pro-Hindu sentiments. Vajpayee's call for a national debate on religious conversions was clear proof of it, he added.

He said the BJP rule had resulted in slowing down of industrial output, closing down of many factories and ancilliary units, especially in the greater Mumbai region.

The Opposition leader said the 'onion crisis' was a clear example of the ''mess up of things'' and ''bureaucratic approach'' of the government, as it permitted export of onions when domestic production was short. Similar were the government steps on the production of electricity and liberalisation of telecommunications sector, he added.

He asked the government why the much touted national agricultural policy had not been finalised. Government inaction had led to unprecedented strikes by doctors, bank employees, Prasar Bharati staff and electricity workers, he claimed.

Pawar felt the latest launch of the Agni missile was a direct contradiction of the prime minister's much publicised efforts to reduce tensions with Pakistan. Similarly, the provocative statements on China by Defence Minister George Fernandes ''negated'' the ''climate of mutual trust'' the Congress government had built up with that country.

He criticised the government and defence minister for washing dirty linen in public on Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat's dismissal and the general treatment of defence personnel. The handling of the issue by the government was a clear violation of defence norms, the former Raksha Mantri added.

UNI

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