The Hindu : National : ‘Clean chit by Rajnath a serious matter’

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Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008
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National

‘Clean chit by Rajnath a serious matter’

Special Correspondent

Refutes BJP’s communal angle charge
‘Congress will get clear majority in Rajasthan’

JAIPUR: The Congress on Tuesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of “politicising” investigation and “communalising” terror.

Speaking in the context of the accused in the Malegaon blasts, the party termed the “clean chit” given by BJP president Rajnath Singh to Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and others and casting aspersions on the investigations carried out by the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) a serious matter, coming as it does from a mainstream political party.

“It is a serious matter that the BJP president has given a clean chit to the Malegaon accused by saying that Hindus cannot be terrorists. The BJP has also cast aspersions on the working of the ATS, which has been carrying out such investigation, to everybody’s satisfaction including that of the BJP, till now,” said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi talking to journalists here.

“It is BJP which is communalising terror and not the Congress. The BJP is using the very expression ‘Hindu terror’ and not the Congress,” Mr. Singhvi pointed out refuting BJP charges of bringing in a communal angle to the Malegaon investigations.

Listing the major terror strikes during the National Democratic Alliance regime at the Centre, Mr. Singhvi said the BJP’s talk of terror attacks was an attempt to hoodwink the public.

The most serious incidents such as attacks on Akshardham, Parliament, Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and Raghunath temple had taken place during its government.

“Did the then Deputy Prime Minister ever consider stepping down?” he asked. “The Kargil war took place after the bus trip Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had made to Pakistan. Four months after the Agra summit between the Indian Prime Minister and Pakistan President, the attack on Parliament took place,” Mr. Singhvi said. The Congress spokesperson visualised his party’s prospects in Rajasthan as “jeet ki tsunami” (tempestuous victory). The party is poised to get a clear majority in the State.

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