NEW DELHI: The Congress on Monday asked the Bharatiya Janata Party to clarify its position on the charge levelled by the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah that the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his deputy L.K. Advani had a hand in freeing hardcore terrorist Masood Azhar to secure the release of Indian hostages at the Kandahar airport in Afghanistan in 1999.

"Mr. Vajpayee, Mr. Advani and Mr. Jaswant Singh [former External Affairs Minister] owe it to the nation to clarify and rebut the serious allegations" made by a person who was supporting the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance Government at that time, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told mediapersons here.

He said Dr. Abdullah, in his interview to a news magazine, felt bad that the decision to release the three terrorists was taken by those who professed to fight terrorism but gave in. Dr. Abdullah also said Masood Azhar was now an international terrorist. Both Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Advani should accept the blame, while Mr. Jaswant Singh, a former Army official, should explain why he gave in, the former Chief Minister said.

Mr. Singhvi said the BJP leaders should explain why no attempt was made to buy more time at Kandahar. Those who talked "pompously of nationalism and wear the badge of national security are the people who betrayed. The nation is waiting for an answer."

Vande Mataram issue

Asked about the decision that in BJP-ruled States the Government would make rendition of "Vande Mataram'' mandatory on September 7, concluding day of the centenary year of the national song, Mr. Singhvi said that in 1998 the then Prime Minister Mr. Vajpayee rejected a similar suggestion.

Accusing the BJP of indulging in "cheap politics," he asked why the party was bent on making the singing of "Vande Mataram" compulsory now when its leadership did not want that done in 1998.

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