Advani blows poll bugle in MP

Ujjain, Aug 28 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial nominee L K Advani blew the assembly poll bugle in Madhya Pradesh today with a frontal attack on the Congress by accusing it of arguing in favour of terrorists.

''A ban was placed on the Students Islamic Movement of India during the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's tenure but the Congress argues in favour of SIMI,'' he alleged at a mammoth public meeting here.

''Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru is yet to be executed. The government will have to provide an answer at the hustings,'' the former Union Home Minister warned.

He alleged that the Centre's United Progressive Alliance regime generated an unnecessary dispute over the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board land issue.

''During the National Democratic Alliance government's tenure, General (Retired) S K Sinha was Jammu and Kashmir Governor and ensured a lot of development work for facilities and security to Vaishno Devi pilgrims but the present Governor has complicated matters,'' said the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Separatist Hurriyat leaders had links with Pakistan and therefore did not allow a solution to the Kashmir issue, he said while adding that pilgrims should be provided facilities on the lines of Haj houses in other parts of the country.

The former deputy premier said that in his entire political life, since 1951, he never witnessed anything as abysmal as the recent Lok Sabha trust vote bribery.

Mr Advani, who was in this ancient temple town to flag off Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's 'Janashirwad Yatra', claimed that the BJP initiated its scheme of yatras in various areas of India with the objective of keeping democracy alive and strengthening it.

''Mr Chouhan conducted a considerable amount of public welfare work and the BJP should be given another term,'' Mr Advani felt.

UNI XC-AC 2109