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UPA government weakening nationalist forces: Advani

Shujaat Bukhari

JAMMU: Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani on Saturday accused the United Progressive Alliance government of weakening the nationalist forces by surrendering before terrorists, separatists and secularists. He said the struggle in the State was not between Kashmir and Jammu or Hindu or Muslim but it was nationalists versus secessionists.

Addressing a public meeting here, Mr. Advani said that in 2004 the UPA government formulated the Common Minimum Programme in which repealing of the Prevention of Terrorism Act was a top priority. Later the government scrapped it. But, after the Mumbai terror attacks it brought a new law in Parliament to counter terrorists. “It is full of flaws, and I asked them why they repealed the POTA.”

Mr. Advani accused the Congress of being soft towards terrorism and cautioned that surrendering before terrorists, separatists and the so-called secularists meant weakening the nationalist forces. “This is complete injustice to the people who are fighting for the nation.”

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha had a dig at the Centre for not executing the Parliament attack case accused Afzal Guru. Taking credit for the speedy trial of those involved in the attack, Mr. Advani said the death sentence was pronounced in 2002 but even after six years the Congress government had not executed the same. This had sent a signal that the government was soft on terror, he charged.

Lauding the people of Jammu for launching the “successful” struggle against Amarnath land cancellation, the BJP leader said it had even surpassed the struggle of 1947 spearheaded by Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. “People of Jammu are facing discrimination and they shall have to wake up and send their representatives to Parliament and the Assembly.” Without naming any party, Mr. Advani alleged that those who created the land issue were supporters of separatists in Kashmir.

BJP leaders Arun Jaitley, Shanta Kumar and Chaman Lal Gupta also addressed the meeting organised to woo voters for the last phase of elections in the State on December 24.

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