Krishna attacks NDA on its election manifesto

Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna today launched a frontal attack on NDA saying its election manifesto aimed to sow seeds of hatred between people and religions and the "mask" of BJP had been uncovered with the inclusion of Ayodhya issue in it.

BJP's true face has been uncovered with the party including the Ram Mandir issue in the NDA manifesto and dumping the hitherto followed NDA agenda, he told an election rally at Bharamasagar near here and later reporters at Chitradurga.

Krishna urged NDA allies like Trinamool Congress, JDU and Telugu Desam to "introspect" and change their earlier stand of supporting BJP.

Castigating the BJP for trying to rake up the Mandir issue at a time when the country faced several burning problems, he said "the mask of BJP is uncovered now".

The BJP was attempting to whip up communal passions in the name of religion and the manifesto was nothing but "a design to divide the country on the basis of caste and religion," he alleged.

The people of the country have been living in amity for years and there were several places of worship where Hindus and Muslims prayed together. "If they want to build temple, church or mosque, let them win the hearts of the people and not at the cost of the other," he said, warning any attempt to forcibly implement its agenda would prove detrimental to the nation's interests.