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BJP to approach Kalam to oppose Afzal's clemency
The BJP decided to approach President Kalam and the people over its opposition to clemency to Mohd Afzal.
The BJP on Wednesday decided to approach President APJ Abdul Kalam and the people over its opposition to clemency to Mohammed Afzal, sentenced to death in Parliament attack case.
BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley dubbed moves to save Afzal from the gallows as acts of "misplaced sympathy" and alleged Congress "had no strategy in place to tackle terrorism".
Talking to reporters after a meeting of the party's core group on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, he said BJP would seek an appointment with Kalam to submit a memorandum against Afzal who "plotted to eliminate the country's political establishment".
Jaitley, whose party aims at reviving its national security plank ahead of assembly polls in four Hindi heartland states, said the moves for mercy for Afzal would give "fillip" to terrorism.
He accused Congress of being unable to deal with terrorism which he alleged has escalated especially in Jammu and Kashmir.
"We discussed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir in Wednesday's meeting. The situation has deteriorated there. There is rise in terrorism and infiltration," Jaitley said and accused the state government of failing to handle militancy and of bias against Jammu region, said.
In his comments after a meeting of the party's general secretaries, BJP leader Vinay Katiyar announced plans to reach out to the masses over what he alleged was Congress' support to Afzal.
