Asia ReView

BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI

Sept. 29: Accusing the Congress-led UPA government of failing to build consensus to fight terrorism, the BJP has criticised it for not even discussing the issue with its own allies. It has also accused the government of subjecting national security to vote-bank politics.

Various senior BJP leaders have been going hammer and tongs at the government on the issue of terrorism. On Monday, it was party president Rajnath Singh who attacked the government yet again on its handling of terrorism. Speaking at Delhi University’s Campus Law Centre on the subject "role of youth in maintenance of internal security", on Monday, Mr Singh also reiterated his party’s stand regarding anti-terror laws.

Stating that it will be difficult to fight terrorism with existing laws, Mr Singh said that even the US has enacted a stringent law against terrorism. Claiming that certain countries have revived laws that are over 600-year old to fight terrorism, the BJP leader said that the UPA government should have amended the Pota instead of calling it a failed law.

The BJP president also expressed concern over the fact that the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (Simi) has been described as a cultural organisation. "A section of the politicians and so-called social activists are suffering from chronic disorder in the mindset. Otherwise they do not support dreaded organisations like Simi and propagate silly reasons for growth of terrorism in India. Poverty is not the only reason for terrorism, Most of the terrorists are well educated and belong to economically sound families," he said.

He also lashed out at the Jamia Millia Islamia university vice-chancellor, Prof. Mushirul Hasan, for stating that the university will be providing legal support to two of its students, arrested by the Delhi police.