Advani blames UPA govt of minority appeasement

Pune, Apr 10 (UNI) Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Senior BJP leader L K Advani today alleged that the UPA government has made it a part of its agenda to count the "unchecked minorities" in an attempt to win back Muslim votes.

Addressing a public rally as part of his Bharat Suraksha Yatra, Mr Advani said he could not find any achievment during the last two years of UPA government except appeasing Muslim votes by any means.

''The journey of appeasing minorities started with the reservation for Muslims in Andhra Pradesh followed by a similar reservation in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). In both these cases, the respective High Courts struck these decisions as unconstitutional,'' he said.

Recalling the discussion and debates that had taken place in the Constituent Assembly, Mr Advani said the sub-comiittee which went through the details of reservation had concluded that there shall be no reservation for any religious group except for the socially-oppressed Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The UPA government which had asked the three wings of the defence forces for a headcount of minorities had publicly repudiated the move of the government, Mr Advani added.

He said he could not think of any other government of facing the wrath of judiciary on this issue time and again.

When the Supreme Court shut down IMDT Act applicable in Assam, the government was trying to bring the same provisions by amending the Foreigners Act, thereby, weakening the state control to check illegal migration specially from Bangladesh. He said Supreme Court had reminded the government of its responsibiulty to protect all states from external aggression and interbal disturbances. But, this government is interested in pursuing any decision to win back the minorities vote even if the decision was against the national interest, he alleged.

Earlier, addressing a series of road-side meetings on Mumbai-Pune highway, Mr Advani said many of the UPA partners "insulted" the Muslims by bringing in a look-alike of al-qaeda chief Osama Bin laden to campaign for them in the recently concluded Bihar elections.

''This is a real insult to the Muslims,'' he remarked. The BJP was for a comprehensive development of Muslims and is never meant to discriminate them or push them to a position of inconvenience.

But, at the same time every single illegal migrant should be identified and deported, he said.

Tomorrow, Mr Advani will proceed towards Sholapur from Pune.

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