Congress demands explanation from Advani on Kandahar hijack

The Congress today demanded an explanation from senior BJP leader LK Advani why was he "economical with truth" regarding the hijacking of an Indian Airlines aircraft to Kandahar.

"If the statements of George Fernandes, Jaswant Singh and Brajesh Mishra are taken together, it is clear that Advani was a party to the decision which was taken regarding the Kandahar hijack," party spokesman Manish Tewari said here.

He said this was a matter not internal and intrinsic to the the BJP but something which concerns the nation.

"Advani must inform the nation as to why he chose to be economical with the truth," Tewari said, adding that the explanation has to precede an apology on the issue.

The statement of Tewari comes in the backdrop of former National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra today saying that Advani was part of the NDA government's decision to release three terrorists and to send Jaswant to Kandahar for securing hostages' release.