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| Govt issuing statements instead of taking action: BJP | | | agencies
New Delhi, Mar 14: The BJP today said the government extended the red carpet to Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf despite the beheading of an Indian soldier and rued that even after the Srinagar terror attack the UPA regime is only engaging in issuing statements instead of taking action. "The attack, which was sponsored by Pakistan, was another conspiracy against India. Pakistan continues to commit this mistake again and again but our government thinks its only responsibility is to issue statements about them," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters.
The party strongly condemned in Parliament the Srinagar terror attack which led to the death of five CRPF jawans. Hussain maintained that after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent statement that it will not be business as usual BJP expected some strong steps will be taken.
"But the government did not take any action. When the Pakistan Prime Minister came here last Sunday our External Affairs Minister had time to offer him delicious lunch but did not utter a word on the beheading of our soldier Hemraj," he said. The BJP maintained that Pakistan is not likely to mend its ways in the present situation. The party insisted that Ashraf was not just a pilgrim and India's concern should have been conveyed to Pakistan in strong words.
"Instead of taking up this issue, the Indian government played a gracious host. Now after the Srinagar attack while the whole country is agitated, the Home Minister has come out with just a statement," Hussain said.
BJP attacked Khurshid for his comments that the NDA government had hosted then Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in Agra, saying he should stop rubbing salt on wounds of those saddened by the killing of Indian soldiers.
"If Khurshid learnt some lessons from the Diwan of Ajmer dargah who refused to assist Ashraf in offering prayers, he would not offer lunch to him," Hussain said. He claimed that in Agra, the NDA had clearly told Musharraf to criticise terrorism or go back empty-handed. "He could not even visit the dargah then. In Agra we had given a strong reply to Pakistan," Hussain said. The BJP also hit out at Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde for committing the faux pas in Lok Sabha of re-reading part of his speech, saying this shows the level of seriousness in this government. It advised Shinde to "act and not react" and not just read out statements. "You should not read out the FIR like a station officer. As Home Minister you are expected not merely to make a statement but tell the House what strong steps are being taken," Hussain said. The BJP emphasised that Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act should be strictly imposed in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Some people espouse the cause of the attackers more than the cause of the martyred... We are not ready to listen to a single word against AFSPA. Latest and most modern weapons should be provided to our soldiers to fight terror," he said. The Opposition was also scathing on the Home Ministry's claim after attacks that Intelligence alerts were sent out.
"The Home Minister always parrots out a statement after any attack that we had sent out alerts that this can happen. It seems every morning the home ministry faxes such alerts. Centre's job is not just to send intelligence alerts but also take preventive steps," Hussain said. "You are not the Information and Broadcasting Minister. That ministry is with Manish Tewari. You are the Home Minister," he added, addressing Shinde. |
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