National

Farooq statement irresponsible: BJP

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JUNE 23. Political parties see the shenanigans of the National Conference (NC) leaders, including their demand for autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir, as nothing but pre-election gimmicks.

The Congress today refused to comment on the "internal affairs" of the NC and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), pointing out that despite the harsh criticism of the Centre by the NC leaders Omar Abdullah continued to be a Minister in the Vajpayee Government.

Although the BJP has been taking the pronouncements of the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, and his son with more than a pinch of salt — after all they have to prepare the ground for the coming Assembly elections, the party has argued — it was taken aback by the ferocity of the attack on the Centre and the Sangh Parivar.

The comparison by the Abdullahs of terrorists in the State to the "terrorists" of the Sangh Parivar was quickly denounced by the BJP spokesperson, Sunil Shastri, as an "irresponsible statement".

Nor was the BJP prepared to accept that the communal carnage in Gujarat and the demolition of the Babri Masjid 10 years ago were terrorist acts involving the Sangh.

The CPI national secretary, D. Raja, did not mince words when he described the NC leadership as "opportunistic". He said that the Farooq Abdullah-led NC continued to be part of the NDA even after the Vajpayee Government rejected its autonomy resolution. "It shows that Dr. Abdullah's party is opportunistic. Its representative remains in the NDA Government even after Ayodhya (issue being raked up again by the VHP) and the Gujarat violence."

The CPI(M) held the position that the State should be given maximum autonomy. It said that without assuring the Kashmiri people of their identity and fulfilment of their democratic aspirations within the Indian Union, the separatist and fundamentalist forces could not be countered.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Farooq statement irresponsible: BJP
• 'Coronation' revisited
• BJP preparing to return to Hindutva agenda?
• Centre must firm up stand on J&K: Omar
• Reconstruction of tomb of Sufi saint disallowed
• Naval LCA to get clearance soon
• Muslim law board sticks to stand on Ayodhya case
• 'Musharraf's remarks irrational anger'
• Check VHP activities, say Left parties
• `Neighbours' not welcome to `mela'
• Arabian Sea experiment to study monsoon
• Paswan calls for ban on VHP
• Sanjay a great visionary: Maneka
• Two Pak. spies held

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu