BJP praises Darul Uloom for fatwa against terror

New Delhi, June1 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday praised Islamic seminary Darul Uloom for its fatwa declaring terrorism as the "most inhuman crime".

At the same time, the party criticized Congress-led United progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre, saying its apathy towards an anti-terror law shows that it wants to link Muslims with terrorism.

Welcoming the Darul Uloom edict in his address at the party's National Executive meeting, BJP president Rajnath Singh noted that, "Deoband is seeking to dissociate Muslims from terrorism."

But, he said, the Central government wants to equate Muslims with terrorism and is rejecting an anti-terrorism law on this basis.

"Perhaps, the Central government wants to prove itself as a bigger messiah of the Muslims, even bigger than the madrassas," he said.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's administration has "completely failed" to tackle terrorism and reiterated demand for a tough Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) type anti-terror law, he added.

He accused the Government of compromising with the safety of the people by repealing POTA and said it was a step taken with an eye on votebank.

Same was the motive when Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil virtually equated Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru with Sarabjit Singh, an Indian on death row in Pakistan.

Singh cited the spurt in terror attacks in the last four years and reports about stock markets and sensitive nuclear installations coming on the terror radar to support his demand for a POTA-type law.

"Even after being completely exposed within and outside the country, if the government does not feel the need for an anti-terrorism law, then this would not only reflect its immaturity but also raises questions about its honesty," he said.

The BJP president said it seems the Prime Minister thinks that terrorism is a national problem and it cannot be dealt with at the state level.

"He (Prime Minister) has called for a separate federal investigating agency for dealing with terrorism. I am surprised that the Prime Minister feels the need for a federal investigative agency but does not feel the need for a federal law," he said.

"This means that there is a need for an army but not for arming the military," he added.

Singh criticized the Centre for keeping Acts pending against organised crime passed by BJP-ruled Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

"I would like to question the Central government about its intention on the issue. If it wants to honestly support State Governments in their fight against terrorism, then it should immediately grant approval to these acts," he said.

He spoke on the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigration and requested the Prime Minister to call an all-party meeting to frame a national policy on the issue.

"I appeal to all political parties to reconsider their policies on the problem of Bangladeshi infiltrators with an open mind," he said.

ANI