Congress does not politicise terrorism issue: Shukla

The Congress party on Tuesday said that it does not politicise the issue of terrorism, but is committed to fight it effectively.

The Congress party on Tuesday said that it does not politicise the issue of terrorism, but is committed to fight it effectively.

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AICC spokesperson Rajiv Shukla addressed a press conference in Mumbai and was questioned on several issues including the issue of terrorism and if the matter was being politicised excessively in the general election campaigning.

“Kandahar plane hijack incident was a “litmus test” in which the then Union Home Minister L K Advani had failed. “What kind of a strong leader is he?” the Congress leader said, questioning Advani’s calibre.

Shukla said that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had strongly opposed the decision of V P Singh government to release terrorists to free Rubayya Sayeed, daughter of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed.

Changing tracks, Shukla described SP and BSP as “spoilers”, and said the two parties aimed to split the Congress party’s votes as they cannot win on their own.

Talking about cricket and IPL in particular, Shukla, who is also the vice president of BCCI said the Centre was not opposed to holding of IPL’s second season in India.

“The dates were clashing and the Union home minister wanted the BCCI to hold the matches in May instead of April. But, it was difficult for BCCI to do so,” he said.

Shukla said BCCI will not suffer losses because of shifting of venue.” Only the costs will go up. But, we will recover them,“ he said.