Date:28/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/28/stories/2008092859570800.htm

National

Don’t make Patil a fall guy, says Rajnath

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh on Saturday said the Centre was soft on terrorists, resulting in the increasing terror strikes in the country.

Reacting to the bomb blasts in Delhi, he said the United Progressive Alliance government was responsible for the situation and Home Minister Shivraj Patil should not be made a scapegoat.

‘Keep an eye on ISI’

The BJP president said the international community should keep a close watch on Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence, which was allegedly abetting in terrorism.

He made out a case for bringing in stringent anti-terrorism laws and said the Veerappa Moily commission had also recommended such legislation.

Mr. Singh, who made a stopover at the Bengaluru International Airport on his way to Delhi after attending the Tamil Nadu State executive meeting at Salem, hinted at a possible poll alliance with the AIADMK. He said the two parties “shared many things in common” and this was an era of coalition politics. However, the BJP had not yet held talks with the AIADMK.