The Hindu : National : Advani's statement unfair: Congress

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Wednesday, Oct 06, 2004

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National

Advani's statement unfair: Congress

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, OCT. 5. The Congress said today that it was unfair of the former Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, to accuse the Centre of being weak in dealing with the insurgency in the North-East. Stating that the Congress was reluctant to "play politics'' over an issue as grave as the attacks in the North-East over the weekend, the party general secretary, Salman Khursheed, said the Centre was seized of the gravity of the situation and was treading cautiously.

"It is very easy to say `be firm.' We are dealing with our own people and the situation has to be handled sensitively. The Government is not weak in its resolve. Mr. Advani's statement was unbecoming of the position he once held.''

Asked to elaborate on the party's understanding on the spurt of violence in the North-East, Mr. Khursheed said it was possible that the groups who masterminded the attacks were testing the resolve of the new Government at the Centre. There was a view within the party that it could be a case of groups hardening their stance in anticipation of negotiations to have a better bargaining position whenever invited to the negotiating table.

As for the Left parties criticism of the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, the general secretary said they should remember they were on the same side. Further, he said, the Left parties should remember that Mr. Patil had been a socialist.

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