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BJP chief cautions Mufti against releasing militants

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI NOV. 5. While welcoming the formation of an elected Government in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP president, M. Venkaiah Naidu, today cautioned the new Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, "against releasing Kashmiri militants."

Talking to reporters, Mr. Naidu said any such move would "demoralise" the administration and the security personnel trying to deal with terrorism in the State.

The release of militants "unilaterally'' when there was no offer from them for talks would only encourage the separatist forces. The State Government could not afford to be seen as soft, he said.

Many of the militants were Pakistani nationals. A proxy war was going on in the State, and the release of the militants would not be in the interests of the nation or the people of the State, he said. Criticising the Common Minimum Programme of the PDP-Congress Government and the decision not to invoke the Prevention of Terrorism Act and to disband the Special Operations Group, he said the State Government must rethink these issues.

Mr. Naidu saw no reason for convening the Assembly in Uttar Pradesh saying that only four or five independents had switched loyalties. There was no rethinking on the alliance between the BJP and the BSP.

The BJP would adopt a two-pronged strategy in the State: protect the party's image, and at the same time strive for the stability of the BSP-BJP Government.

Referring to the Gujarat elections, he said pseudo-secularism would be the main theme in the party campaign.

Mr. Naidu also said the BJP was against taxing agriculture income.

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