'Security of Kashmir should be handed to army'

Patna, Jul 16: Taking strong exception to terrorists attack in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP today demanded to hand over the security of the trouble-torn valley to army.

BJP national vice-president Shanta Kumar told newspersons here that Jammu and Kashmir was in the grip of terrorists and their attacks in the valley indicated that it had become impossible for the state government to control the menace.

In the given situation the entire security of J&K should be handed over to the army for safety and security of the people, he added.

Lamenting at the Central government for the terrorists' attack at several places in the country, Mr Kumar asked the UPA government to frame a stringent security policy with the consent of all political parties and assured that the BJP would support UPA on the issue on national security.

He alleged that that UPA was soft towards terrorists and infiltrators in order to keep its vote bank entact.

Infiltration was a serious problem and the Central government was promoting it with an eye on its vote bank, he said.

Mr Kumar said his party would continue to fight terrorism, corruption and price rise at national level.

To a query, he said the price of sugar could be controlled for which he asked the UPA government to supply ten lakh ton of sugar in the market and stop its export. The price of all essentials did not rise for five years during the regime of the Vajpayee government, he said adding it was an historical achievement of the NDA government.

Addressing mediapersons, party state president Radha Mohan Singh said there was complete coordination between the BJP and JD (U) and the coordination committee would be announced tomorrow which would hold its meetings in Delhi.

Earlier, addressing the two-day state executive meetings, Mr Singh said the ministers in the state government from BJP quota were functioning effeciently.

During his presidential address, the senior leader of the party Kailashpati Mishra said that the NDA government was striving to change the face of Bihar and live up to the expectations of the people. He appealed to the party members to strengthen the organisation and maintain discipline.

UNI