BJP demands sacking of Arjun, Antulay

New Delhi, July 14 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party today demanded the sacking of Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh and Minority Affairs Minister A.R. Antulay for what it described as ''utterly irresponsible statements'' over terrorist attacks, including the Mumbai blasts, in the country.

While Arjun Singh was reported to have said at the Cabinet meeting yesterday that the attempted attack on the RSS headquarters was a framework by the Sangh itself, Mr Antulay is reported to have said the Hindus were behind the Nanded blast in Maharashtra in April to defame Muslims.

"Both are central ministers. By their utterly irresponsible statements they are trying to encourage terrorist forces. We demand sacking of both Mr Arjun Singh and Mr Antulay," BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

Nothing could be more unfortunate than such kinds of statements, he added.

The party meanwhile also assailed the statement of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, giving a clean chit to the banned organisation SIMI.

"It is the height of appeasement at the cost of national security," Mr Prasad said.

He said that Mr Yadav had made such a statement despite the fact that police and intelligence agencies had told him that SIMI was behind the bomb blast in the Shramjivi Express at Jaunpur.

He said SIMI was banned in the state when Mr Rajnath Singh was chief minister and at that time Congress had opposed the decision. Today the UPA Government wanted to ban it nationally, he noted.

The BJP spokesman accused the Congress and its allies of playing with the national security for the four-five years. He said that it was unfortunate that CPM leader Sitaram Yetury making such a statement that as the country moved closer to the US, there would be more such terrorist attacks. "What does he mean to say? Mr Prasad asked, alleging that Mr Yechury was trying to communalise the country's foreign policy.

"We condemn it," he said, cautioning against creating an environment for terrorist to promote their activities.

The party reminded the UPA that most of the terrorists attacks had taken place in states either ruled by Congress and UPA partners.

''The Government owed to explain whether it was happening because of intelligence failure. If not, why had the state government failed to take pre-emptive measures?'' Mr Prasad asked.

UNI KAS VD ND1708