Advani slams PM on anti-terror plan

Indore, Nov 24 (UNI) Firing a broadside at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the terrorism issue, the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial nominee L K Advani today said that Dr Singh was mulling an action plan to tackle militancy and consequent problems with an eye on the general elections.

''Why is the action plan being contemplated now after blissful slumber that lasted four-and-a-half years? At a recent annual conference of top police officers in New Delhi, the Premier spoke of a 100-day plan and formation of a taskforce,'' the ex-Union home minister told mediapersons here while on the campaign trail in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh.

The former deputy premier felt that Dr Singh should instead consider properly implementing the erstwhile National Democratic Alliance government's Prevention Of Terrorism Act that was repealed by the Centre's United Progressive Alliance regime.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said that even as the price rise was at an ''unbridled peak'' the Prime Minister was saying that there was scant cause for concern.

''The Centre's Congress-led regime failed on every issue including combating terrorism and stabilising the economy. The Congress is indulging in vote-bank politics. I urge the electorate in poll-bound states -- including Madhya Pradesh -- to cast their votes on the basis of work done by their respective governments,'' he said.

To a query, Mr Advani said that a Ram temple would certainly be built at Ayodhya but declined to answer another question on Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Praveen Bhai Togadia's alleged financial assistance to the Malegaon serial blasts' accused.

''I am standing by my earlier remark regarding (Quaid-i-Azam) Mohammad Ali Jinnah and have referred to the matter in my book (My Country My Life),'' he said.

UNI XC-AC 2017