PM should withdraw his statement on JK : Rajnath

New Delhi, July 16 (UNI) BJP president Rajnath Singh today asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to withdraw his comment on the need to convert the Line of Control into ''Line of Peace'' and questioned the basis for his statement.

Taking exception to the PM's statement, the BJP President while addressing the BJP Minority Morcha rally convened at Jantar Mantar here, reminded Dr Singh about Parliament's 1994 unanimous resolution which had spoken of completing the unfinished agenda of taking back Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to India. The BJP wanted talks with Pakistan to be on but not at the cost of Parliament and the national psyche.

Holding Congress responsible for the sad state of Muslims in terms of development, education and employment in the country, the BJP president said it was this party which had ruled the country for 52 out of 60 years after Independence. The Muslims' conditions had not at all improved and the Congress was only offering lip sympathy them to keep their votes intact. The BJP Minority Morcha took task of awakening the Muslim sentiments on the intentions of ruling party, he added.

On the presidential elections, he said the NDA was prepared to back Dr Kalam for a second term but the ruling coalition made no effort to bring about consensus on his name, he said.

Several leaders including BJP Minority Morcha President Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also addressed the gathering.

UNI