Chandigarh, May 15 (PTI) Hailing the BJP's impressive performance in Karnataka Assembly polls, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said today that the party has been marching ahead since 1996 and today nearly three-quarter of the country is ruled by it and its allies.

"If we look at the history of the BJP and the strength it has gained today, Congress never gained such strength in its history," Khattar claimed, addressing party workers at the BJP office in Panchkula after returning from a two-nation tour.

He said the BJP and its allies are governing 21 states.

"Since 1996, the party has been marching forward and today 70 per cent of the states are ruled by the BJP and its allies," he said.

The BJP today emerged the single-largest party after the results of Karnataka polls were declared but fell short of a majority. The Congress offered support to the third-placed JD(S) to form the government to keep the BJP out of power.

However, the suspense in Karnataka continues as it was still not clear who will form the next government.

Taking a dig at the Congress, Khattar said: "The Congress should now change its name to Punjab-Puducherry-Parivar Party because it has been shrunk to only 2.5 per cent of the population. Till the time Congress is under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, the party can never succeed."

Lauding the prime minister's leadership, he said Narendra Modi's "vision of a Congress-free India" is being realised.

Khattar said the BJP should maintain this zeal, enthusiasm and faith, and with this trust, "we should get ready for the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections scheduled to be held in May and October 2019 (respectively)."

Referring to the INLD and the BSP recently entering into an alliance for next year's Lok Sabha and Haryana Assembly polls, he said: "The era of alliance has come to an end and the alliance struck by them is unnatural and has no meaning."

Touching upon his nine-day foreign visit, he said India enjoyed unique identity in countries such as Israel and the UK.

"Meetings and discussions were held with NRIs there. Foreign investors and businessmen have been invited to invest in Haryana," he said.

He said the people of Israel have made a lot of progress in agriculture and Haryana will adopt their technology.

"Israel is keen to assist in the fields of technology, investment, defence and farming," he said.

He said in case of a road accident in Israel, medical facility reaches within minutes. "For this, a control room has been set up where such calls are received and assistance is provided in 90 seconds. This system would be implemented in Haryana," he added.

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