PM ridicules BJP's stand on terrorism

Questioning Bharatiya Janata Party's assertion of having taken a strong stand against terrorism, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said the saffron party's record on the issue is entirely different from the claims made by it.

"Our opponents claim is that only they can take a decisive and strong stand against terrorism, but by looking at the record of the BJP a completely different picture emerges," he said, addressing an election meeting Pheowa, about 30 km from Kurukshetra.

Three dreaded terrorists were released and sent to Afghanistan during the regime of BJP, he said, referring to the Kandahar hijack case.

During BJP's rule, terrorists attacked Parliament, Red Fort, Raghunath temple, Akshardham and Jammu and Kashmir assembly, he said, adding that even terrorists entered Kargil, but the then BJP government remained unaware of the problems.

"This is the record of the BJP; you decide how strong and decisive are these leaders (of BJP)," he said.

Drawing parallels with BJP on the issue of terrorism, he said the Congress-led UPA government took brave decisions to face the terrorists attack in Mumbai. "We will keep facing terrorism bravely and with full commitment," he said.

"All necessary steps needed to be taken to tackle terrorism will be adopted but we will keep in mind that a particular religion or section of society does not face problems unnecessary," Dr Singh said.

The prime minister said coordination between states is needed to tackle the problem of terrorism.

Besides at the international level the issue has to be discussed, he said.

"The lack of peace and stability in neighbouring Pakistan, Nepal and Sri lanka could also have affect on our country," he said.

"In my opinion only a national party like Congress can deal with such problems," he said, adding "his party has experience and capability to deal with such problems."