BJP uncomfortable with Advani's claim on terrorists release

New Delhi, Mar 24 (UNI) The BJP today appeared to be uncomfortable about taking the questions on the claim of senior leader and Leader of Opposition L K Advani that he was unhappy about the decision to release three jailed terrorists in exchange for the lives of hijacked passengers on board the Indian Airlines aircraft at Kandahar.

BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy merely said that Mr Advani had 'amply clarified' his position stating that the priority at that time was safe release of all 160 passengers as mandated by an all party leaders meeting. He had stated that the Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh taking the prisoners in the same plane to Afghanistan was a 'side issue'.

Mr Advani had made the claim that he was unaware that the Foreign Minister was taking the terrorists along with him to Kandahar in a television interview. He had stated to former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah that he was 'unhappy' about this decision, effectively meaning that he was laying the blame on the doorstep of the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Asked if it was proper for the NDA government to sideline Mr Advani, the then Home Minister and keep him in dark about such an important decision, Mr Rudy remarked ''Your analysis is wrong. We don't agree with your views'', he said.

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