Amarnath issue strengthened separatists: Katiyar

Sagar, MP, July 16 (UNI) Bharatiya Janata Party General Secretary Vinay Katiyar today alleged that the Jammu and Kashmir government's decision to take back land allotted to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board had strengthened separatists.

''A terrorist has neither religion nor caste. He is humanity's enemy. The situation in the country is pathetic and the government is buckling before militants,'' he said while addressing a public meeting organised here by the BJP in protest against the allotment's cancellation.

Maintaining that stern action would be taken against terrorists after the National Democratic Alliance assumed the reins at the Centre, Mr Katiyar added that the land would be re-allotted to the Board.

''The Amarnath issue has added weight to neighbouring countries' viewpoint. When minorities can be granted considerable facilities on religious basis why should anyone object to the majority community being granted facilities? The Board matter was brought to the fore to divert public attention from inflation,'' he said.

UNI XC-AC 2107