Advani urges PM to clarify on Madani issue

Bhopal, Apr 27: Senior BJP leader L K Advani today slammed a proposal, passed by the Kerala assembly, absolving Peoples Democratic Party founder Abdul Nasser Madani of involvement in the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should inform the citizens how a constitutional body could give its nod to a proposal for dropping charges against Mr Madani,'' he said while addressing a public meeting at Kamla Park here as part of his 'Bharat Suraksha Yatra'.

Earlier, former union minister Sushma Swaraj, Madhya Pradesh BJP President Satyanarayan Jatia and other leaders addressed the gathering.

They alleged the Congress and Left parties were endangering the nation's integrity by liberating persons having terror links for political appeasement with an eye on the Muslim vote bank.

In his 40-minute speech, Mr Advani said, ''The Centre's UPA regime does not possess the courage, understanding and capacity to combat militancy and naxalism. Besides, it is turning a Nelson's eye on culture.'' He said it was natural for eyebrows to be raised on the stability of the UPA government due to the regime's form, the nature of the alliance partners and internal differences.

''The likelihood of a mid-term poll cannot be negated,'' the leader added.

UNI