BJP maintains Prime Minister not serious about terrorism

New Delhi, May 20 (UNI) Endorsing BJP general Secretary Arun Jaitley's view as that of the party, the BJP today said the country had the weakest Prime Minister as Mr Manmohan Singh and the UPA government was being run by the diktats from 10 Janpath, the residence of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Briefing newspersons, BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said the UPA government had never shown the political will to fight terrorism and in fact its decision to withdraw POTA had given a leeway to terrorist activities.

Mr Jaitley on Sunday had dismissed the Prime Minister's suggestion for a federal agency to battle terrorism after the serial blasts in Jaipur which left more than 60 dead and 200 injured.

Taking exception to Mr Jaitley's 'blunt' attack on the Prime Minister and suspecting his bona fides in the war against terror, the Congress yesterday said such 'scandalous' allegations tantamounted to challenging the authority of the Indian state and hindered the fight against terror.

"We would suggest Congress to better not equate a "weak" Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with the state. Can he take any decision independently without consulting 10 Janpath? Can he induct anybody as a Minister in his Council of Ministers?," he asked.

The lack of government's commitment to tackle the menace of terrorism was evident from rise in terrorist activities in the country, he said.

The BJP had been consistently accusing the government of being soft on terrorism and demanding a POTA like legislation to deal with the situation.

The BJP is willing to discuss the suggestion for a federal agency provided the government should prove its political will and commitment towards dealing with the problem with a heavy hand, he said.

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