'BJP to curb terrorism menance if regains power'

Haldwani, Dec 26: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader MurliManohar Joshi today charged the Congress government with bowing down toterrorists and said his party would root out the menance of terrorismfrom the country if it regained power at the Centre.

''The Congress-led UPA government has bowed down to terrorists,''former Union Minister alleged adding that instead of dealing with theterrorism menance, it was ''compromising with the terrorists.

Speaking at the concluding function of the BJP's 'Satta ParivartanYatra' here, the leader alleged that due to the laxity shown by theCongress government in curbing the terrorism problem, ''the rulingparty is destroying the financial and cultural heritage of thecountry''.

Urging people to support the BJP to again come to the power at theCentre, Dr Joshi claimed, ''It was BJP's resolution that the partywould free the country from the menace of terrorism. ''It has, however,received encouragement under the Congress regime,'' he alleged.

Criticising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his remarks onMuslim minorities at the National Development Council (NDC) meeting, DrJoshi alleged it amounted to the Muslim appeasement policy of theCongress.

''The government is dissecting the country on religious basis,'' he alleged.

Expressing concern over the increasing number of illegalBangladeshi immigrants in Uttaranchal, the leader claimed that neitherthe Centre nor the State government was giving much heed to it despitethe State having border areas.

Denouncing the Congress government for its ''failures'' inUttaranchal, Mr Joshi alleged that Chief Minister N D Tiwari had nottaken any step towards the development of the State.

''Mr Tiwari's only achievement had been distribution of 'lalbattis', he said, adding that ''behind every successful man there is awoman. However, there is a woman behind the failures of Mr Tiwari,'' healleged.

Actor and BJP leader Smriti Irani, who was also present on theoccasion, called on people to uproot the Congress government, allegingUttaranchal known as 'Devbhoomi' had been converted to 'Kalyugi RavanBhumi' by the ruling party.

Among others present at the function were Ace Indian ShooterJaspal Rana, Uttaranchal in charge Ravi Shankar Prasad, State ChiefBhagat Singh Koshyari and MP Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri.

UNI