Advani issues clarification on removal of Muslim drivers

New Delhi, Oct.16 : Leader of Opposition Lal Kishan Advani on Thursday said that he had no knowledge of some Muslim drivers being removed from a motorcade escorting his car.

"I have read newspaper reports today that when I visited Calicut on October 14 to address a Vijay Sankalp Rally organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party, two Muslim police drivers belonging to the Kerala Police were removed from the motorcade escorting my car. It is further reported that this was done by the National Security Guard that usually accompanies me during my travels in and outside Delhi, " a party release quoted Advani, as saying.

"I would like to state that neither I nor any one in my party had any knowledge whatsoever of the incident, which I have come to know only through the media," Advani said.

"Neither my Party nor I have ever given any instructions to this effect, since we do not believe in discrimination on the basis of religion in any matter," he added.

'The security of the NSG protected leaders is vested with the central and state government. Shri L.K. Advani or the team accompanying him came to know about the incident only through the media and also have doubts whether such an incidence has actually happened or not, as the enquiry has revealed that the Car Protection Team, which had two inspectors, three sub-inspectors and Doctors in the ambulance all were from the Muslim community," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javedkar was quoted in a separate release.

ANI