BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY

Press Release

New Delhi – 10 July 2008

Shri L.K. Advani, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, today slammed the UPA government for its total failure to contain skyrocketing prices of essential commodities and services. ‘It’s unfortunate that prices are soaring high and the economy is worsening under an Economist-Prime Minister,” he said, while addressing a large rally of government employees in New Delhi today.

The rally was organised by the Government Employees National Confederation, affiliated to the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), which is the largest trade union in the country.

Fully backing the government employees’ demands, arising out of their grievances over the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, Shri Advaniji said that, “what has been given by way of Sixth Pay Commission has been snatched away by inflation that has, as per official figures, neared 12%. Indeed, many segments of government employees are poorer after the Pay Commission recommendations because of unprecedented price rise.”

“Price rise is not only on account of mismanagement of the economy but also due to rampant corruption in the UPA government. This is the most corrupt government in the history of independent India,” he said.

Shri Advaniji also pointed out that rising interest rates have further impoverished the middle classes. “The EMI (equated monthly installment) on housing loans taken by middle class families has nearly doubled under the UPA rule as compared to the NDA rule,” he remarked.

“I assure you that if the BJP and the NDA get a mandate to form the next government, we will provide an honest and clean government dedicated to the ideal of GOOD GOVERNANCE. In unshering in a new era of GOOD GOVERNANCE, I seek the support and cooperation of GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES. In my eyes, YOU ARE NOT MERELY EMPLOYEES, YOU WILL BE OUR VALUED PARTNERS.”