'Corruption, terrorism missing in PM's speech'

A senior BJP leader said that the Prime Minister's speech did not send any tough message to Pakistan on terrorism.

The Opposition BJP, which has launched an offensive on the government over the Pathak Authority report, on Tuesday, voiced dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Independence Day speech, insisting it fell short of addressing corruption in public life.

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Senior BJP leader LK Advani, whose party advocates the re-introduction of a POTA-type law in the country, told reporters that he did not find any satisfactory response from the Prime Minister to the scourge of terrorism.

"The speech was lacking in respect of addressing corruption and terrorism," he remarked after a flag-hoisting ceremony at his residence here.

Advani also flayed the government over the report of the Pathak authority, which has indicted former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh but has exonerated the ruling Congress from charges of being an illegal beneficiary of Iraqi oil contracts.

In his comments separately, senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi insisted the Prime Minister sent out no tough message to Pakistan for its alleged support to terror. "Instead, the speech reflected the UPA's soft approach on terrorism," Naqvi said.

Also, he alleged Singh came out with no concrete solution to address price rises and issues facing the "aam admi", such as joblessness and illiteracy.