Congress accuses BJP of "double speak" on Taslima issue

New Delhi, Nov 26 (UNI) The Congress Party today came down heavily on the BJP for blaming the Centre on the issue of providing security to exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, and said the Opposition's anxiety was not genuine as it was aimed at driving wedge among different sects of a community.

"The BJP is trying to preach us in a bid to cover up its double speak," AICC Spokesman Abishek Manu Singhvi told mediapersons, pointing out that "it was a classic case of passing the buck. It is like devil quoting scriptures." He said it was the UPA government at the Centre that had given permission to Ms Nasreen to stay in India. "We are providing her with appropriate security." ''The BJP is demanding residency status to Ms Nasreen, while operating from the backroom to shunt her out of its party-ruled Rajasthan,'' Mr Singhvi said.

Alleging that Ms Nasreen was provided accommodation in "Rajasthan House" in Delhi after refusing her to stay in Rajasthan only to create confusion, Dr Singhvi pointed out that the security in Delhi was under the direct control of the Centre and not under the BJP government in Rajasthan.

''The effort of the BJP to create such an impression is nothing but the height of hypocrisy and double-standard.'' UNI