BJP flays Ahamed's remarks; demands his removal from Ministry

Kochi, Oct 16 (UNI) Bharatiya Janata Party Kerala General Secretary A N Radhakrishnan today termed Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed's remarks on the reported removal of two police drivers from the motorcade of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani during his recent visit to the state as 'anti-democratic' and demanded his removal from the Union Ministry.

Speaking to reporters here, Mr Radhakrishnan said, ''The Minister's statement that the drivers were removed doubting their integrity, as they belonged to a particular community was irresponsible and against the spirit of democracy.'' The Central and State Governments had the resposnsibility to provide security to Mr Advani and the BJP had nothing to do with it, he noted.

''The statements of the IUML leaders, and Mr Ahamed and P K Kunhalikutty will only try to create a wedge between Hindus and Muslims and stall the development of the State,'' Mr Radhakrishnan said.

Meanwhile, the State Government is probing into the incident in which two police drivers, who were on duty, were withdrawn minutes before Mr Advani's arrival at the venue in Kozhikode.

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