'Centre should not withdraw troops from JK'

Jammu, Mar 28: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit today said the UPA government should not withdraw troops from the Valley as long as terrorist activities were being operated from the Pakistani soil.

Talking to mediapersons in a press conference, state BJP chief Ashok Khajuria accused the Central Govenment of not being serious of the nation's internal security.

''Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured that the Army would not be withdrawn, but in the last three months the forces are cut because of which a crisis has emerged in Rajouri and Doda districts,' Mr Khajuria claimed.

He said the Union Government had decided to withdraw of troops to save its government in the state. ''Such steps, of course boot up the moral of separatists and terrorists and could push the country into a crisis once again,'' he added.

The army should not be withdrawn from the state until the terrorist activities in the country are being operated from the Pakistani territory, Mr Khajuria said.

''The BJP state unit is once again warning the Prime Minister and UPA leadership not to take such steps for which the country will have to pay a big price,'' he said.

UNI