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BJP praises Darul Uloom for fatwa against terror
1 Jun 2008, 1600 hrs IST,PTI
NEW DELHI: Generally known for minority-bashing, the BJP on Sunday went the extra mile to compliment leading Islamic seminary Darul Uloom at Deoband for its fatwa declaring terrorism as the "most inhuman crime".
At the same time, the party took potshots at the Congress-led UPA at the Centre, saying its refusal to enact an anti-terror law shows that it wants to equate Muslims with terrorism.
Welcoming the Darul Uloom edict in his address at the party's National Executive meeting, BJP president Rajnath Singh noted that "Deoband is seeking to dissociate Muslims from terrorism."
But, he said, the Central government wants to equate Muslims with terrorism and on this very basis is rejecting an anti-terrorism law.
"Perhaps, the Central government wants to prove itself as a bigger messiah of the Muslims, even bigger than the madrassas," he said.
Continuing its attack on the government on the issue of internal security, he said the PM Manmohan Singhs administration has "completely failed" to tackle terrorism and reiterated demand for a tough POTA type anti-terror law.
He spoke about the repeal of POTA, dubbing it a step taken with an eye on votebank, and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil's comments virtually equating Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru with Sarabjit Singh, an Indian on death row in Pakistan.
Singh cited the spurt in terror attacks in the last four years and reports about stock markets and sensitive nuclear installations coming on the terror radar to reiterate his demand for a POTA-type law.
"Even after being completely exposed within and outside the country, if the government does not feel the need for an anti-terrorism law, then this would not only reflect its immaturity but also raises questions about its honesty," he said.
The BJP president said the Prime Minister seems to have accepted that terrorism is a national problem and it cannot be dealt with at the state level.
"He (Prime Minister) has called for a separate federal investigating agency for dealing with terrorism. I am surprised that the Prime Minister feels the need for a federal investigative agency but does not feel the need for a federal law," he said.
"This means that there is a need for an army but not for arming the military," he added.
Singh slammed the Centre for keeping pending Acts against organised crime passed by BJP-ruled Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
"I would like to question the Central government about its intention on the issue. If they want to honestly support state governments in their fight against terrorism, then it should immediately grant approval to these Acts," he said.
He also referred to the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigration and urged the Prime Minister to call an all-party meeting to frame a national policy on the issue.
"I appeal to all political parties to reconsider their policies on the problem of Bangladeshi infiltrators with an open mind....," he said.
Very good move by BJP.
