Hindu Party Makes Policy Move

NEW DELHI, India's government-in-waiting issued its first major policy statement yesterday, pledging to protect domestic industry against foreign competition and to develop nuclear weapons to counter neighboring China and Pakistan.

A coalition of disparate political parties led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) laid out an agenda that departs dramatically from the policies of previous government and is unlikely to sit well with the United States.

However the leader of the BJP, who will be sworn in today as prime minister, did not seem worried by the latter.

Asked whether his forthright nuclear stance invited criticism from Western powers concerned about a South Asian arms race, Atal Bihari Vajpayee said: "We are not concerned with anyone's displeasure."

It was a bold statement coming from the leader of a coalition facing a vote of confidence by parliament, a confirmation that must occur within 10 days after Vajpayee becomes prime minister.

The outcome is uncertain because even though the BJP is the biggest party in parliament, without its coalition partners it does not have the seats to withstand two major opposition groups, the Congress party and the United Front.

If the BJP-led government falls, the Congress could try to win allies to come to power. India has had three different leaders in the last two years.

The BJP's "national agenda for governance" largely resembled the party's campaign pledges.

But because the BJP cannot afford the loss of any allies who range from firebrand socialists to right-wing nationalists, the document omitted several divisive Hindu nationalist goals.