Cong and its allies openly supporting SIMI: Jaitley

The BJP accused the Cong-led UPA at the Centre of failing to eradicate terrorism and openly supporting the banned SIMI.

The BJP on Tuesday accused the Congress-led UPA at the Centre of failing to eradicate terrorism and openly supporting a banned outfit like the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) to “discredit” nationalist forces.

“UPA government has totally failed to eradicate terrorism in the country. Instead, Congress and its partners like the Samajwadi Party (SP), Rastriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) are openly supporting SIMI”, BJP national general secretary, Arun Jaitley told reporters in Jammu.

Jaitley, who was on a two-day visit to Jammu to review the party’s poll preparations, said, “They (Cong and allies) are discrediting nationalist forces by their statements openly in favour of SIMI”, he said.

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They are out to demoralise forces which are fighting terror in this country, he said, adding that this posture is condemnable by people across the country, who are living under the threat of terror.

“They should differentiate between SIMI and the nationalist forces. Their stand is not only providing them (terrorists) the space to breathe, but grow as well by moral boosting”, he said and alleged that nothing was being done to stop terrorism from spreading through the length and breadth of the country.

Welcoming the recent statement of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari describing Kashmiri militants as terrorists, he said, “It was in his sub-consious mind over the years and now it has come out of it”.

Lashing out at the PDP for openly criticising Zardari’s statement on terrorism in Kashmir the BJP leader said the party has shown its “true colours”.

Police personnel seen to control the situation during a massive protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

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