Congress strengthening forces weakening sovereignty: Modi

Bangalore, Sep 13 (UNI) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has come down heavily on the communists and the Muslim League for adopting a subversive stand on the issue of sovereignty and integrity while the Congress has maintained a traditional centrist position on these two issues.

Intervening in the discussion on the political resolution on the second day of the BJP's national executive meeting today, Mr Modi said, ''Historically, the RSS, Jan Sangh and the BJP have been treading the path of aggressive nationalism,'' while the Congress in the past few years has moved in the direction of strengthening the forces which were out to weaken the country.

Making a terse remark on the functioning of the UPA government at the Centre, especially in dealing with subversive forces, the Gujarat Chief Minister said the Union government has seriously compromised national interest besides trying to assault symbols of national and cultural pride.

Mentioning a number of government deeds, including repeal of TADA act, non execution of Afzal Guru, refusal to give assent to state-level anti-organised crime laws, Mr Modi lambasted that ''the softness on terror is being used by the UPA as an instrument for vote bank politics.'' Making a scathing attack on the handling of the issue of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, the Gujarat Chief Minister accused that the Samajwadi Party, the RJD and the LJP have openly supported SIMI and the Congress continued to maintain a relationship with them.

Stating that the unabated illegal entry by the Bangladeshis has posed a threat to the sovereignty and demography of India, Mr Modi charged that ''the Congress prefers to use these immigrants as a vote bank.'' Mr Modi asserted that even though there was no provision for introducing religion-based reservations in the Constitution, the UPA was pursuing it in the states ruled by it.

Referring to the reported stand of the National Security Adviser supporting the GUJCOC which is yet to be cleared by the Centre, he remarked, ''Those concerned about terror obviously support GUJCOC, those concerned about terrorists understandably oppose it.'' UNI MV SKB VC1650