The Hindu : New Delhi News : Milli Council asks Advani to review yatra plan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 04, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Milli Council asks Advani to review yatra plan

Special Correspondent

"It holds out the threat of rampant communal polarisation"

NEW DELHI: The All India Milli Council on Monday urged Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Leader of the Opposition L. K. Advani to review the decision to embark on a "Rashtriya Surkaksha Rath Yatra" from April 6, fearing it might foment communal trouble along its route.

In a letter to Mr. Advani, the Council's general secretary M. Manzoor Alam said the proposed yatra had made people apprehensive and posed a threat to communal harmony.

`Yatra destructive'

"On this point, one shares the concern with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the yatra could be destructive for the country as it holds out the threat of rampant communal polarisation."

Pointing out that there were several sensitive places along the route, Dr. Alam said people in general and minorities in particular expect a different "attitude" from Mr. Advani, a former Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister.

Dr. Alam said: "You [Mr. Advani] are to address sensitive issues like unchecked infiltration altering the demographic profile in parts of India, amending the Foreigners' Act, 1946 selectively for Assam, the UPA's manipulation on worsening the imbalance of religious demography cited in the 2001 Census, communal reservation in jobs and education ... if it is true, how would you dispel the apprehensions of countrymen in general?

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