Advani criticizes UPA on inflation, farmer suicides

Bhubaneswar, March 31 (IANS) Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Tuesday launched his party's poll campaign in Orissa by attacking the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on issues like inflation and farmer suicides.

'The UPA government broke many records as inflation, corruption and poverty touched new heights,' Advani, who is the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, said addressing a gathering of thousands in Khariar town of Nuapada district, 600 km from here.

It was his first trip to the state after the BJP's 11-year-old coalition with the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) collapsed earlier this month.

Blaming the central government for failing to tackle poverty and rising prices of essential commodities, Advani said not only debt-ridden farmers but also people from other spheres were also committing suicide.

Accusing the central government of remaining silent on Indian wealth in secret Swiss bank accounts, the prime ministerial candidate said if voted to power his party would bring this back and use it for the development of the country.

This money belongs to the people of India, the farmers, the landless and the workers, who are in great economic stress today, Advani said.

Advani also addressed several election meetings for his party in western Orissa.

Orissa will go to polls in two phases on April 16 and April 23 to elect 147 members to the assembly and 21 members to the Lok Sabha. The BJP has announced it will contest all Lok Sabha and assembly seats alone.