Alleging that inaction of the Congress-led UPA government had emboldened separatist forces, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader M. Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday demanded the “strongest possible action” against Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, writer-activist Arundhati Roy and others for advocating ‘azadi' for Jammu and Kashmir.
“In the name of freedom of expression, the unity and integrity of the country cannot be challenged. The government must take exemplary action and send a clear message,” he told reporters at the party headquarters in Chennai.
“It is unheard of that Jammu and Kashmir is not an integral part of India,” he said.
Alleging that the inconsistent policies of the UPA government had led to the present situation, he said the government should come out with a clear-cut policy vis-à-vis Kashmir and separatist demands.
Asked whether he was for the arrest of Mr. Geelani and others, he said “there is a law and nobody is an exception.” Mr. Naidu also accused the UPA government of misusing government agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Income-Tax Department, besides the Raj Bhavan, for political and partisan ends.
Reacting to Income Tax raids on the houses of BJP legislators in Bangalore, he questioned the selective action targeting the party.
