11-22-2006, 09:14 PM
<b>UPA government soft on handling terrorism: Vajpayee </b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->New Delhi, Nov 22: Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Wednesday said that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's days are numbered if it did not change its soft approach on handling terrorism.
Addressing a massive Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally near Jantar Mantar here, the veteran leader said the government did not have a clear policy on internal security, terrorism and India-Pakistan relations.
"The ministers in this government speak in different voices on such crucial issues indicating confusion in the government ranks.
"If this government is not going to change its ways, people will change this government," he said.
Vajpayee, along with L K Advani, BJP president Rajnath Singh and senior party leader Murli Manohar Joshi slammed the UPA government for the delay in the execution of the death sentence to Mohammad Afzal, convicted in the 2001 parliament attack case.
"We are going to ask the UPA government in parliament why there is a delay in disposing of Afzal's clemency petition. In case of clemency petitions, the cabinet has to take a final decision. Why the cabinet is not taking any decision?" Vajpayee asked.
Afzal had earlier this month filed a mercy petition before President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam seeking pardon of his death sentence.
Rajnath Singh said the party would continue its agitation to press for an early execution of Afzal.
Earlier in the day, Advani and Rajnath Singh led two separate processions of BJP workers from Rajghat and Birla Mandir respectively, culminating at Jantar Mantar near Parliament. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Addressing a massive Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally near Jantar Mantar here, the veteran leader said the government did not have a clear policy on internal security, terrorism and India-Pakistan relations.
"The ministers in this government speak in different voices on such crucial issues indicating confusion in the government ranks.
"If this government is not going to change its ways, people will change this government," he said.
Vajpayee, along with L K Advani, BJP president Rajnath Singh and senior party leader Murli Manohar Joshi slammed the UPA government for the delay in the execution of the death sentence to Mohammad Afzal, convicted in the 2001 parliament attack case.
"We are going to ask the UPA government in parliament why there is a delay in disposing of Afzal's clemency petition. In case of clemency petitions, the cabinet has to take a final decision. Why the cabinet is not taking any decision?" Vajpayee asked.
Afzal had earlier this month filed a mercy petition before President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam seeking pardon of his death sentence.
Rajnath Singh said the party would continue its agitation to press for an early execution of Afzal.
Earlier in the day, Advani and Rajnath Singh led two separate processions of BJP workers from Rajghat and Birla Mandir respectively, culminating at Jantar Mantar near Parliament. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->