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Advani: Cong was informed
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NewsByte on 19 May, 2008 02:24:22
 
By S.A. Hemanth Kumar
Bangalore, May 19: Senior BJP leader, L.K. Advani has asserted that the then
NDA government had kept the Congress informed of what they intended to do on the
Kandahar hijack crisis.
"The unanimous decision taken by the all-party meeting convened by the then
Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee in the wake of the crisis was to accord utmost
importance to the safety and security of the passengers of IC 814. The then
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Dr Manmohan Singh had attended the
meeting and hence the Congress is also a party to the decision of the NDA
government," Mr Advani said, in response to a question in a press conference at
Hubli, 410 km from here on Monday.
"I do not know how the Congress leaders can forget this and keep on harping on
the Kandahar issue, after it authorised the NDA government to get the passengers
released unharmed," Mr Advani said.
Congress leader and Union science and technology minister, Kapil Sibal has been
attacking the BJP for releasing three terrorists, including Maulana Masood Azar,
in exchange for the passengers.
Urging the UPA government to give top priority to the issue of terrorism during
the forthcoming talks between India and Pakistan, the BJP leader said, "Foreign
minister Pranab Mukherjee and secretary, Shivashankar Menon are set to meet
their Pakistan counterparts sometime in June for talks on various issues. I want
the Union government to accord top priority to the issue of cross-border
terrorism as well as deportation of Dawood Ibrahim during the talks."
According to Mr Advani, Pakistan Prime Minister’s statement that his country
would deport Dawood if India produces evidence of him being guilty is an
admission of the fact that the proclaimed terrorist was indeed in the
neighbouring country.
"Indian courts have proved Dawood of being guilty of various crimes including
the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts. The Interpol has issued a red corner notice. The
US has declared him as an international terrorist. What more proof Pakistan
wants to deport Dawood?" Mr Advani asked.
On the recent Jaipur blasts, Mr Advani said the preliminary investigations
pointed the needle of suspicion towards the Bangladesh-based HuJi. "It is
imperative for New Delhi to take up the issue with Dhaka," he added.
He also wanted the UPA government to take note of the Supreme Court striking
down the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act of 1983 on the issue
of immigration from Bangladesh.