Some Punjab militants may be released: Advani

By Arunkumar Bhatt

NASHIK, MAY 14. The Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, today indicated that the Government was actively considering the release of Punjab militants, who were not facing any serious charges but were imprisoned under the National Security Act (NSA) for their pro- Khalistan views during militancy in the State.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Advani said he had asked the officials of his Ministry to prepare a detailed report on the Punjab militants for the purpose. ``I have asked officials of my Ministry to prepare a list of those who were detained in Punjab under NSA and TADA. If leaders of the Hurriyat can be released, why not these persons,'' he said.

The Minister said any decision on their release would be taken on a case-by-case basis and merit.

With militancy having ended in Punjab, it was felt that the cases of those detained could be reviewed, he said.

Mr. Advani announced the extension of the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for two more years, sending a strong signal to Sri Lanka that its approach to the Jaffna war was on even keel, despite parties from Tamil Nadu being a part of the ruling BJP-led coalition.

He said that the earlier ban on the LTTE ended today and the Centre had decided to extend it for two more years. The step comes in the wake of several allies' demand that India support the LTTE.

Recently, the MDMK leader, Mr. Vaiko, had called on the Shiv Sena chief, Mr. Bal Thackeray, to solicit the latter's support for the Tigers. Mr. Thackeray had obliged the Tamil leader by issuing a statement against New Delhi's policy of no intervention in Sri Lanka.

Kashmir issue

The Government had released the Hurriyat leaders in its first step and was now evaluating its impact. He said the Jammu and Kashmir Government had always been kept `in the picture' by the Union Government and the former would be a party to the talks with the Kashmir leaders whenever it took place.

Mr. Advani said the Government's policy approach had brought about a major change vis-a-vis Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and its disruptive activities. Three years ago, any talk of the ISI was viewed as communal ``but now even the Home Minister of West Bengal has complained that the Centre talks about the ISI menace in other parts of the country but not in West Bengal''.

Clean chit to Bhujbal

Mr. Advani was here to participate in the meeting of the State Council of the Maharashtra BJP. He did not make happy a section of the State leadership when he told a questioner that the allegations levelled by the Sena-BJP leaders that the State Home and Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Chhagan Bhujbal's official residence had become a den of the ISI agents were baseless.

The BJP leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Mr. Nitin Gadkari, and his counterpart in the Assembly, the former Chief Minister, Mr. Narayan Rane, had levelled the allegations. Mr. Bhujbal had initiated defamation proceedings against them.

Mr. Advani said that the Budget session of Parliament had shown that the strategy of the Congress(I) to divide the NDA on economic issues had collapsed. He said the Congress(I) had followed a similar approach earlier to divide the BJP and its Government and the RSS and BJP, but that had also failed.

Mr. Advani alleged that, even after being in power for 50 years, the Congress had not been able to formulate a constructive response since it was in the grip of pure negativism.

Earlier, he had told the party meeting that the TINA (there is no alternative) factor that used to sustain the Congress(I) rule was now helping the BJP and its allies but they should not depend on it. They should seek the popular mandate on the basis of the party's performance and should strive to do better.

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