DATE=8/16/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDIA ELECTION L-ONLY
NUMBER=2-252826
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: India's governing coalition has issued its
election platform -- pledging to lower unemployment
and seek 10-billion dollars a year in direct foreign
investment. Correspondent Jim Teeple reports from our
New Delhi bureau, India's prime minister, who goes
into upcoming national elections well ahead of his
rivals, has ruled out a quick decision about whether
to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
Text: Polls show that if the election were to be held
tomorrow Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee would
easily win a clear mandate to govern. Mr. Vajpayee's
"Bharitiya Janata Party" is the largest in a coalition
known as the National Democratic Alliance. Balloting
will begin on September 5th and continue at weekly
intervals until October 3rd.
Recent polls show the B-J-P alliance well ahead of its
principal rivals, "The Congress Party" and its allies.
The "Congress Party" alliance is led by Sonia Gandhi,
the Italian-born widow of former Prime Minister Rajiv
Gandhi who was assassinated in 1991.
Several recent survey's show Mr. Vajpayee's coalition
winning more than 320-seats in India's 545-seat lower
house, enough to form a government on its own.
Mr. Vajpayee says even if he wins the election with a
clear mandate to govern, he will not move quickly to
sign the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. He
says he will seek a national consensus on whether the
treaty is in India's best interests.
// VAJPAYEE ACT //
There has to be a broad national consensus. We
are trying to evolve that consensus. After the
elections a final decision will be taken in this
regard.
// END ACT //
Mr. Vajpayee says that consensus must include
opposition parties. The Prime Minister had pledged to
sign the test ban treaty before September. But that
pledge was made before his government collapsed in
April, following a parliamentary confidence motion led
by the "Congress Party".
India and Pakistan have come under intense
international pressure to sign the treaty since their
nuclear tests in 1998.
The countries came close to starting their fourth war
after fighting erupted this year on the Indian side of
the Kashmir border. India blames Pakistan for sending
paramilitary troops and Islamic guerrillas into its
territory.
Pakistan denies involvement in the 11-week conflict.
Speaking Sunday at India's Independence Day
celebrations, Mr. Vajpayee ruled out peace with
Pakistan unless, as he put it -- Pakistan stops
training and arming Islamic militants in Kashmir.
As he unveiled his coalition's election agenda
(Monday), the Prime Minister softened his tone. He
said a meeting ground between Pakistan and India will
have to be found following the election and efforts
will be made in that regard.
The Prime Minister has seen his personal popularity
soar following his handling of the Kashmir crisis.
With approval ratings of higher than 70-percent Mr.
Vajpayee enjoys much more support than the coalition
he will likely lead back to power in October.
// REST OPT //
The B-J-P led alliance says if it is able to form a
government in October it will move to enact a law
allowing only native-born Indians to serve in high
positions in India's Legislative, Judicial, and
Executive Branches of government. The issue of Sonia
Gandhi's Italian origins has become a heated political
controversy, even within her own party. Three leading
regional Congress Party leaders were forced to resign
after they raised the issue at a Party meeting in May.
(SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/RAE
16-Aug-1999 08:31 AM LOC (16-Aug-1999 1231 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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