The Hindu : National : Manmohan, Sonia criticised for raising spectre of violence

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Friday, Feb 09, 2007
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National

National

Manmohan, Sonia criticised for raising spectre of violence

Staff Correspondent

The Congress is up to its old tricks, say Opposition parties in Punjab

CHANDIGARH: The main opposition parties in Punjab, including the CPI and the Shiromani Akali Dal, have criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi for creating a fear psychosis during their election campaign in the State by raising the bogey of terrorism, reviving the spectre of violence and communal flare up in the State.

Talking to reporters, member of the National Executive of the CPI Joginder Dayal took strong exception to the statements of Dr. Singh, who is reported to have warned the people that terrorism could return to the State if, instead of the Congress, those forces that believed in communal and divisive ideologies were voted to power.

Dr. Dayal said that it was indeed sad that the Prime Minister could make such statements which were aimed at cornering votes by frightening a section of the population. Discounting all such talk, he said that not a single incident of communal tension was reported across Punjab despite the gravest provocation from terrorist activities and the events of 1984.

Even if Dr. Singh's apprehensions were to be accepted at their face value, the responsibility of any revival of violence in the State would fall directly on the Prime Minister and the Punjab Chief Minister.

The veteran communist leader said that after raking up the issue, Dr. Singh owed an explanation to the nation, as to how dreaded terrorists were allowed to return to the country and go scot-free during the last five years when the Congress was at the helm.

He also reminded the Prime Minister of the statement by the Police chief appointed by the present Congress government, that about 300 terrorists were allowed to change their identity and live a normal life, while records indicated that they had been eliminated in encounters. To top this, much against the sentiment in the party, the

Congress had not only included, but also allotted party tickets to some of those who had a history of involvement in terrorism.

Through a separate statement issued here, the Akali Dal president, Parkash Singh Badal said, "The Congress is up to its old tricks. Having realised that people had seen through the hollowness of the Chief Minister's loud and tall claims on development in the State, the party had clearly decided to fall back on its old tactics of "divide and rule."

Mr. Badal said that these leaders needed to be reminded that Punjab emerged as the most peaceful state in the country when the Akali-BJP combine was in power for five years between 1997 and 2002.

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