Press Statement issued by Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad,
BJP National Spokesperson and MP

Instead of harping on critical issues of governance such as inflation, price rise, food security, national security and others that are creating havoc for the hapless aam admi, the Congress party is solely focussed on trying to deflect the debate away from core national issues. Given the gross mismanagement of the country on all fronts of socio-economic issues over the last four years, the Congress party’s consistent criticism about a painful decision that was taken a decade ago, is truly unfortunate. The decision to exchange terrorists for securing the release of nearly 200 innocent Indian passengers in a hostile and alien land was taken after demands by various political parties in including the Congress and relatives of the hostages.

The dismal four year track record of the Congress led UPA government is evident for all to see. Apart from displaying a pathological fixation of mindlessly criticizing the opposition, the party and UPA government have little to take credit for. The larger issue remains unambiguously clear – terrorists were on the run during the NDA regime in stark comparison to the scandalous track of the Congress over the last 40 years which has conclusively established that the source of some of the country’s most painful and long term terrorist and extremist problems lies at their very doorstep. Additionally, during the last four years of UPA misrule, repeated signals have gone to terrorists and their patrons abroad that under this government, national security is a casualty before appeasement politics and initiative against terrorists is tradable for votes.

The outstanding role of Shri L K Advani as an effective Home Minister is only too well known who never compromised on terrorism. This indeed was the theme of the Vajpayee led government.

The BJP rejects the charge of the Congress on the party’s approach about dealing with terror. A single painful decision taken after due consultation across the national political spectrum cannot blemish the party’s track record in effectively crippling terrorism during the six years of NDA rule.

Neither does the BJP and its leadership require any lessons on nationalism from one who is yet to fully learn and appreciate the core ethos of this great civilization where dissent is integral to our cultural heritage and duly respected. Mrs Sonia Gandhi would do the country great service if she would instead of focussing her misguided ire against the opposition, actually direct the rag tag experiment called United Peoples Alliance towards issues of governance and in the process alleviate the sufferings of the common man. What to comment on a leader who has not learnt any lessons given the repeated electoral reversals of the Congress Party across the country over the last four years.

(Shyam Jaju)
Office Incharge