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Party's tough line on security

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THE main opposition party has vowed to promote national security, political stability and economic development with a fair deal for all sections of society should it be voted into office at next summer's general elections.

According to the resolution adopted after the annual meeting of the Hindu fundamentalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party is opposed to the entry of foreign banks, insurance companies and food and soft drinks manufacturers.

Its economic policies stress developing indigenous capabilities and controlling the inflow of multinationals.

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But the BJP made its strongest stand on national security, saying it would initiate a nuclear weapons programme and significantly strengthen the country's military.

It has promised to expedite the production of Prithvi, the indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile, and to make fully operational Agni, the 2,000-kilometre range ballistic missile.

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The development and production of both missiles have been deferred by the Government under pressure from the United States.

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