BJP plays down Katiyar statement on reward

New Delhi, June 9 (UNI) The BJP which raised a storm by announcing a reward for civilians killing terrorists, today tried to soft pedal the issue by stating that the party was only ''propagating'' the government scheme for rewarding the villagers in Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar, when asked about party general secretary Vinay Katiyar's reported statement on rewards for those who kill militants or compensation to the families of those who die in a failed attempt, said Mr Katiyar had only been propagating the existing government scheme that provides arms to the members of Village Defence Committees to take on terrorists.

He said the BJP was concerned about the designs of forces inimical to India to clear the Hindu population from the border areas. Even after the recent massacres of civilians, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was still viewing such attacks as 'mistakes' and not terrorist activities, he alleged.

"This is where we have problems and the party could not sit silent," Mr Javadekar said, pointing to the BJP's plans to organise demonstrations in people from different parts of the country at Jammu.

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