Accusing the NDA of failing to curb terror, the Congress charged the saffron party with "politicising and criminalising terror" in the aftermath of Maha ATS probe into Malegaon blast.
JAIPUR: Accusing the BJP-led NDA of failing to curb terror during its tenure, the Congress on Tuesday charged the saffron party with "politicising and criminalising terror" in the aftermath of Maharashtra ATS probe into the Malegaon blast.
"It is the BJP leaders including its President Rajnath Singh who have linked the Malegaon blast with Hindu religion ... neither the ATS (anti-terrorist squad) nor any other political party used the word Hindu," party spokesman and Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan Abhishekh Manu Singhvi told a press conference here.
"It is ridiculous that the mainstream political party BJP, though in Opposition at Centre, is insulting entire Hindu community by making statement everyday concerning Malegaon blasts and Sadhvi (Pragya Singh Thakur)," Singhvi said.
He alleged the BJP was claiming the innocence of the Sadhvi even before the judicial process is complete.
"Rajnath, whose party demanding revival of POTA or a similar law to deal with terrorism is issuing a 'safed chittha' to accused Pragya that she is innocent ... BJP President is not respecting the court that has not given any bail to Pragya and other accused...," he said.
He asked "Why BJP is making press statement everday? The saffron party has never supported any other accused linked with terror incidents in the past ... Why this time only? ... Who is politicising and criminalising the terror?"
To a question Singhvi denied that the UPA government was taking political mileage on the eve of assembly polls saying who could ask the court or the ATS to stop the investigation process in the Malegaon blast case in view of assembly polls.
Singhvi alleged that the ATS probe exposed the links of accused like Pragya and others in September and October, well before the assembly polls were announced, and the Congress never linked such terror with religion.
"It is only the Congress party that never plays politics on caste, religion, and colour ... the Congress is never 'soft on terror' but review the Vajpayee government's period when terrorists were escorted to Afghanistan by the then External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh."
Reminding of the terror attacks on Akshardham, Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Raghunath temple and Parliament during the Vajpayee government's reign, Singhvi said the then Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister M L K Advani in his book "My Country, My Life" said that he was unaware of the cabinet meeting which decided to free terrorists.
"Advaniji should tell the nation how come he skipped the cabinet meeting ... whether it was knowingly," Singhvi said.
Singhvi also raised the issue of Peter Bleach, a convict in the Purulia arms drop case, who was later pardoned.
"One Peter Bleach, convict in Purulia arms case, was sent to his country from jail ... where is Peter now... BJP should tell the nation," he said.
Whenever BJP extended friendly gesture to Pakistan by way of Lahore Bus Yatra and Agra Summit, the country faced Kargil War and terror incidents, Singhvi alleged.
On Afzal Guru's mercy petition pending with the President, Singhvi alleged that the former NDA government did not consider 19 such mercy petitions during its tenure, including ones relating to Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.
"...simple question why?..," he said.
"BJP Hinduon ko na keval ahat and aghat panucha rahi hai, balki aatankwad ka sampradayeekaran aur rajnitikaran kar rahi hai ... (BJP is not only hurting and insulting Hindus, but it is politicising and criminalising terror)," he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}