Press Statement issued by BJP National Spokesperson and MP,
Shri Prakash Javadekar

1. The Bharatiya Janata Party demands an unqualified apology from the Home Minister Shri Shivraj Patil for lying on the issue of detention centers for illegal immigrants and equating the Sarabjit case with that of Afzal Guru. The BJP also demands that the Prime Minister should take action against Mr Patil if he fails to apologise, failing which the PM himself owes an explanation to the nation on both these counts.

The BJP challenges the Home Minister's false contention that the Central Government has not issued any direction regarding detention centres for illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. The meeting of the Nodal Authority of Home the Ministry on the subject of deportation of Bangladeshi migrants was held on 24th January, 2007. Para No. 5 of the minutes of this meeting clearly states that "state government should setup detention centres for detention of illegally staying foreigners pending their deportation". Subsequently on 12 March, 2007 the government issued another circular for the procedure to be adopted for deportation of Bangladeshi migrants. Another meeting followed on 25 April, 2007 minutes of which were sent on 8th May, 2007. Para No. 8 therein clearly states that state government should setup detention centres and should also fund it. Para No. 12 says that this should be done in a time bound manner.

These documents and facts clearly prove that the country's Home Minister has evidently lied on this vital security initiative for political purposes and has also tried to mislead the nation on the issue. What is even worse is that the Home Minister and the Chief Minister of Delhi instead of acknowledging these facts have instead alleged that Mrs. Vasundhara Raje, Chief Minister of Rajasthan of playing a political game on the issue.

The nation also decries the irresponsible utterances of the Home Minister Shivraj Patil who has compared the case of Sarabjit with that of Afzal Guru. Nobody in the country and outside raised any demand for clemency for Afzal on any ground. But still the Home Minister wants to justify dillydallying on Afzal Guru’s hanging by giving a new and completely absurd and ridicules twist to the issue. What is worse is that inherent in his utterances lies an assumption that Pakistan is the spokesman of even Indian Muslims! This is deplorable and appears to have been stated by him with a mischievous purpose to gain political mileage and also instigate some people to raise a such a demand for granting clemency to Afzal Guru.

2. The latest WPI figures confirms the raging price rise. 7.82% inflation rate connotes failure of the government prescription to control the situation. Their empty sloganeering has also boomeranged. Slashing of import duties has not increased the quantity of inbound food items. Much publicised 1million tonne edible oil import has not yet happened. The fiscal measures have not only failed to tame the inflation but have actually caused hardships to industry and home loan seekers with hidden increase in levies and interest rates.

This inflation figure also does not reflect the complete ground reality. People are compelled to shell higher prices for cooking gas, kerosene oil and fertilizers because of shortages.

The BJP reiterates its demand of subsidised supply of edible oil, pulses, wheat, rice and sugar to all sections of society through PDS to give immediate relief to the common man. The BJP views that guaranteeing remunerative prices for all crops continuously for 10 years is the long term solution for food security, self-sufficiency and price stability.

(Shyam Jaju)
Headquarter-in-charge