Terrorism incidents rise when BJP is in power: Congress

New Delhi, Jan 6: The Congress on Wednesday, Jan 6 attacked the BJP, saying whenever the party has been in power at the Centre, the incidnets of terrorism have gone up.

"Last 19 months of Modi government have seen 900 border ceasefire violations on India-Pakistan Border with 19 jawans and 34 civilians having lost their lives," Congress leader and former home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde told the media here.

"Even Border Security Force (BSF) has admitted that there has been 35 percent hike in infiltrations from across the Pakistan border in last one year," he said.

Shinde said there have been "three major terrorist attacks from Pakistan in last six months - two in Punjab and one in Jammu and Kashmir".

"In 1999, IC-184 hijack happened. The then foreign minister accompanied terrorists to Kandahar and released them. During NDA-I, there were hijackings, attacks on Red Fort, Jammu and Kashmir assembly and parliament. Whenever BJP comes to power, terrorism increases," Shinde added.

He also opted to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Pathankot air force base attack, saying the government failed to protect the country.

"The Modi government has failed to protect the country. If this government continues like this, then instead of 'achhe din', it looks like we may lose our country to terrorists," said Shinde.

"Modiji used to say UPA ministers served 'biryani' to Pakistan, what now? He himself went to meet (Pakistan Prime Minister) Nawaz Sharif. What did he discuss there? Were there any press releases? We are in the dark about what they discussed," the former union home minister said.

Shinde said the National Democratic Alliance government should send a clear signal to Pakistan that terrorist attacks would not be tolerated. "India can be a friend of Pakistan but that country should take action against terrorism."

The Congress leader, however, lauded the armed forces for their prompt action in combing operation at the Pathankot air base. "The work of our brave soldiers should be lauded."

Shinde also posed a few pointed questions to the prime minister.

"Why is BJP government and PM Modi shying away from calling Pathankot air base attackers as 'Pakistani terrorists'? Why did Prime Minister Modi or his home/defence minister not take control of the entire Pathankot operation putting a clear-cut command and control structure on the ground to lead the operation?"

"Why couldn't the Akali Dal-BJP led Punjab government act on intelligence and operational input that it received at 3.34 a.m. on the night intervening December 31 and January 1?" the Congress leader asked.

IANS