Cong appeasing militants for votes: BJP

New Delhi, Jan 17 (UNI) Flaying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement about the government's doors being open for talks with ultras during his visit to violence-racked Asom, the BJP today said the Congress was persisting with its ''dangerous trade'' of appeasing militants for votes.

BJP Spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said the BJP was disappointed with Dr Singh's ''ambiguous'' statement which did not view the massacre of Hindi speaking migrant labourers in Asom as part of the ULFA's conspiracy to force them to leave the state.

''The ULFA had been weakened substantially during the NDA government's rule...however, the Congress, which had regained power in Asom by riding on the back of the ultras, has allowed the ULFA to regroup by announcing a ceasefire,'' he said.

The Congress also took support from Naxals in Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh before the elections in the state, the BJP spokesperson added.

In Andhra Pradesh, the state government held talks with the naxals without insisting that they disarm, giving them enough time to regroup, he said. ''Naxals from Andhra Pradesh were crossing over to Chhattisgarh and returning to their camps after stoking violence in the area.'' Mr Javadekar said the Prime Minister had a ''special responsibility'' towards the people of Asom because he was the leader of Congress-led coalition at the Centre and a member of the Rajya Sabha from Asom.

UNI