Rajnath flays PM's comment on LoC
… says it's ‘against the spirit' of 1994 Parliamentary resolution

BJP president Rajnath Singh on Monday flayed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's suggestion that Line of Control (LoC) be made the 'Line of Peace', saying he had "no right" to make such an offer which went "against the spirit" of a 1994 Parliamentary resolution.

"Speaking about converting the LoC into 'Line of Peace' is against the spirit of Parliament resolution (of 1994). The Prime Minister has spoken against the resolution which clearly says that the whole of Kashmir including parts occupied by Pakistan belongs to India," Singh said while addressing a party demonstration at the capital.

"He (the Prime Minister) has no right to make such a statement," he said, adding that by making such a statement, the Prime Minister was "putting the security of the nation at stake for the sake of gathering votes".

The BJP chief was speak ing at a rally organised by the party's Minority cell to protest against the UPA Government's policies towards the minorities.

Singh lashed out at the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance for not taking any initiative to evolve a consensus for the President's post as the NDA had done when they were in power.

While speaking at the meeting he pointed that when President APJ Kalam had expressed his willingness for a second term, a consensus could have been built around him as VicePresident Bhairon Singh Shekhawat had made it clear that he was willing to opt out of the race in his favour. But the UPA turned down the proposal and insisted on imposing Pratibha Patil, as the presidential canditate.

On the issue of quota for Muslims, the BJP president said his party was not against reservation for the minority community but was only against "reservation on the basis of religion, which would trigger a dangerous trend in the country".

Speaking on the occasion, the party's minority cell president Shahnawaz Hussain alleged that by opposing re-election of President APJ Abdul Kalam, Congress has "displayed its double standards".

B JP president Rajnath Singh on Monday flayed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's sugges- tion that Line of Control (LoC) be made the 'Line of Peace', saying he had "no right" to make such an offer which went "against the spir- it" of a 1994 Parliamentary resolution. "Speaking about con- verting the LoC into 'Line of Peace' is against the spirit of Parliament resolution (of 1994). The Prime Minister has spoken against the res- olution which clearly says that the whole of Kashmir including parts occupied by Pakistan belongs to India," Singh said while addressing a party demonstration at the capital. "He (the Prime Minister) has no right to make such a statement," he said, adding that by making such a state- ment, the Prime Minister was "putting the security of the nation at stake for the sake of gathering votes". The BJP chief was speak- ing at a rally organised by the party's Minority cell to protest against the UPA Government's policies towards the minorities. Singh lashed out at the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance for not taking any initiative to evolve a consensus for the President's post as the NDA had done when they were in power. While speaking at the meeting he pointed that when President APJ Kalam had expressed his willing- ness for a second term, a consensus could have been built around him as Vice- President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat had made it clear that he was willing to opt out of the race in his favour. But the UPA turned down the proposal and insisted on imposing Pratibha Patil, as the presidential canditate. On the issue of quota for Muslims, the BJP president said his party was not against reservation for the minority community but was only against "reservation on the basis of religion, which would trigger a dangerous trend in the country". Speaking on the occa- sion, the party's minority cell president Shahnawaz Hussain alleged that by opposing re-election of President APJ Abdul Kalam, Congress has "displayed its double standards".