BJP slams UPA on security scenario

The BJP today mounted a scathing attack on the government for its failure to check terrorism.

The Opposition BJP mounted a scathing attack on the government for its "failure" to check terrorism in the country on Wednesday with Leader of the Opposition LK Advani asking it to always raise the issue of dismantling of terror infrastructure in Pakistan while talking to their leaders.

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Criticising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his statement in Havana that Pakistan was also a victim of terrorism, Advani sought a clarification from Singh on the matter as he had given a "certificate" to Pakistan, which even President Pervez Musharraf would not have expected.

Moving an adjournment motion on the "failure" of the government to maintain security and deal with the "alarming growth" of terrorist menace in the country, he asked how could political parties "defend terrorists when they get caught over Afzal (Parliament attack convict) or Madani (accused of Coimbatore bomb blast)" issues.

"That is why it sends a wrong signal that we are concerned more with votes than fighting terrorism," he said.

When Advani quoted speeches of the Prime Minister and Director Intelligence Bureau ESL Narasimhan at the recent DGPs and IGPs conference, Home Minister Shivraj Patil intervened to say that he was "quoting selectively" from the DIB's speech and the top police officer was not present to defend himself.

"I don't expect this from a former Home Minister" to spell out what was secret, Patil said but Advani responded saying all this had appeared in the media.

The Minister said Advani had himself allowed the media to cover this conference when he held office in the Home Ministry.