Only BJP can weed out terrorism: Rajnath

LUCKNOW: Criticising the Congress-led government over terror attacks in the country, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh said on Monday only his party could free India from the clutches of terrorism.

He demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in view of the serial bombings in New Delhi on Saturday that were preceded by similar attacks in Jaipur, Bangalore and Ahmedabad.

"If the BJP comes to the power at the centre, it will show the political parties, especially the Congress, how terrorism can be flushed out from the country," Singh told a rally in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh.

Accusing the Congress of supporting terrorism, Singh said the central government's inordinate delay in carrying out the death sentence awarded to parliament terror attack convict Afzal Guru showed "the true face of the party".

"We will hang Afzal within no time if we come to power," he said.

Singh demanded an inquiry into recent attacks on churches and Christian prayer halls in Orissa and Karnataka by suspected Bajrang Dal activists.

"The BJP is in no way connected with such incidents. The Congress is dragging the name of the BJP in these incidents only for political mileage. We demand an inquiry into all such incidents but the reports of mass conversions in these areas must also be probed," Singh said.

Without naming anyone, Singh said there were regional parties in Jammu and Kashmir that owed allegiance to Pakistan.

"During the Amarnath land row, these parties unfurled flags of Pakistan. All such political outfits should be banned," Singh demanded.