26 February 2004	Thursday	05 Muharram 1425

NEW DELHI, Feb 25: Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Wednesday pledged peace with Pakistan and made a fervent appeal to Muslims to vote for his party in the coming elections.

"There will be elections in a few days. You have to make a decision. Think thoroughly before you make that decision. Think who can bring happiness. This is the appeal I am making to you," Mr Vajpayee told a colourful gathering of Muslim men, women and children at a rally in Delhi.

Mr Vajpayee said the country was standing at a "crossroads" and people needed new mindsets to move the nation forward. India's estimated 144 million Muslims have traditionally shied away from Mr Vajpayee's right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party due to its hardline Hindu image.

The party has also been accused of being at the forefront of a virulent campaign that ended in the destruction of the Babri mosque in 1992. More recently, the ruling BJP government in Gujarat state and its other Hindu affiliates have been accused of abetting killing of Muslims in 2002.

However, with elections likely to be held in April/May, Mr Vajpayee appealed to Muslims at the rally that his party never discriminated on the grounds of religion and it would never do so in the future.

"We are building new hospitals, new roads. Is it all only for Hindus? Is it not for everyone?" he asked as young Muslims in the crowd shouted pro-Vajpayee slogans.

Mr Vajpayee said India would always strive for peace with Pakistan. "Our policy is to have peace with all our neighbours and at the same time to keep the country's interests in mind. We can change friends but we cannot change neighbours. We will have to live together so why not live in peace."

Mr Vajpayee charged the Congress party with dividing people on religious lines. "I remember in earlier elections, the Congress used to tell Muslims, 'Vote for us or they (the BJP) will send you to Pakistan.' Times have changed," he said.

"Today people are queuing up for visas to visit Pakistan. If the walls can't break, we will keep the windows open and if the windows too are shut, we will try and see you through the ventilators," he added to a loud applause. -AFP