New Delhi, February 7
Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani’s criticism of the UPA government’s handling of internal security matters has set the stage for a prolonged political battle as an angry Congress hit back to remind the former home minister of the NDA’s track record in tackling terrorism.
The Congress detailed the incidents of violence and terrorism which took place during the NDA government’s regime and accused the BJP of deliberately misleading the people and generating insecurity among them by constantly raising the bogey of terrorism.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi was particularly scathing in his attack on Advani who, he said, as home minister was unable to control the run of violence witnessed during their regime.
“Why was Advani’s government unable to control, prevent or abort Akshardham, Raghunath Mandir, Indian Parliament, Red Fort and innumerable similar instances? What happened to his sankalp,” asked Singhvi.
Under attack for delaying the hanging of Afzal Guru, convicted in the Parliament House attack case, the Congress today turned the tables on the BJP by revealing that Guru was arrested and let off under NDA rule two months before the incident took place.
"There is credible information that Afzal Guru was held and let off after questioning two months before the Parliament attack. This is a new fact that has come to light. We will investigate the matter," Singhvi added.
Addressing a rally in Jabalpur yesterday, Advani wanted to know from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh whether Afzal Guru has been given "unofficial clemency" and the number of terrorist modules busted by his government in the last three-and-a-half years.
Singhvi said that instead of misleading people, Advani should tell the nation what led to the sudden "capitulation" on December 31, 1999, at Kandahar.
"Why did the self-appointed 'Loh Purush' become the 'soft' Home Minister sending the Indian foreign minister Jaswant Singh to escort terrorists to Kandahar?” Singhvi queried.
He said the nation also wants to know what had transpired between the deputy prime minister and Jaswant Singh on one hand and the Taliban diplomats, Afghanistan officials and the hijackers on the other.
He said contrary to Advani’s charges, facts show that there has been a 70 per cent decline as far as terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is concerned and a similar decline had been witnessed in Andhra Pradesh.
On the other hand, Singhvi said, 70 per cent of Naxal activity in concentrated in the three states of Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Of these, two are NDA-ruled states and the third too was till a couple of years ago, he added.
