Cong condemns Advani’s remark on Muslims

NEW DELHI, APRIL 28: The Congress on Thuraday expressed disappoinment over Union Home Minister L K Advani's observations in the Lok Sabha ...

NEW DELHI, APRIL 28: The Congress on Thuraday expressed disappoinment over Union Home Minister L K Advani’s observations in the Lok Sabha on the internal security situation, calling them "inadequate" and "lacking in content".

Speaking to reporters, senior CWC member Rajesh Pilot also condemned Advani’s approach of identifying one community to give a befitting reply to Pakistan. "The Home Minister wanted Muslims to reply to Pakistan and this approach was highly condemnable," he said, adding that it would hurt the feelings of the nation and it was unfortunate.

Pilot added that from the reply of the Home Minister on the debate on demands for grants of his ministry, it was apparent that he was not serious about the various issues raised by the members, including the deteriorating situation in the North-East, the rising violence and Pakistani infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir.

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The Congress leader, a former internal security minister, said that the situation in Kashmir had turned particularly bad and the Valley was in danger of returning to the 1989-90 scenario.

Meanwhile, the Congress on Thursday also blamed the Centre for not providing adequate assistance to drought-hit Rajasthan and for lack of coordination and advance monitoring of the situation in the State. PCC president Girija Vyas said the State had demanded Rs 1,145 crore as national calamity relief but the Centre had given only Rs 103.94 crore. This was totally inadequate and the Chief Minister had requested the Prime Minister to release another Rs 700 crore.

The State is reeling under a drought for the third consecutive year, but the Centre has not taken any steps to monitor the situation and coordinate efforts to ensure proper relief, she asserted.