Advani asks PM to come clean on global financial crisis

Kozhikode, Oct 14: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Tuesday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to clarify the impact of the global financial crisis on the Indian economy, saying that the government was not transparent on the issue.

Advani was addressing a public meeting organised as part of the Vijay Sankalp Yatra of the BJP here Tuesday evening.

"I would like the prime minister to come clean on how much the global financial crisis is going to affect the Indian economy. There is a lot of concern and confusion on this score," he said.

He said the BJP was not viewing terrorism as an issue connected with any community and it cannot accept the Congress' view that steps against terrorism will alienate a community.

He wondered if "strong action against organisations such as the Indian Mujahideen and the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) constitute targeting a community".

Advani, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, said the rule of the Left parties in West Bengal and Kerala had affected development in those states.

It is in the BJP-ruled states that the economic development activities are taking place, he said, citing the shifting of Tata Motors' prestigious Nano project from West Bengal to Gujarat.