BJP slams PC for 'most wanted' goof up

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday slammed Home minister P Chidambaram, dismissing his assertion that inclusion of terror accused Wazhul Kamar Khan in the list of most wanted fugitives given to Pakistan was a "mistake" and not a monumental one.

Party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said the goof up, which Chidambaram has accepted as a "genuine error", has raised concerns among people about the way internal security is being handled in the country.

"I think it is the most insensitive comment in the name of efficiency but lost for that one little error. It's not that one little error, it's a serious, monumental lapse for which your ministry will certainly have to take responsibility," she said.

Though admitting that Khan's inclusion in the list was a "mistake", Chidambaram has said it was not a "monumental" one as being made out to be. She feared the "monumental error" could have a serious bearing on the relationship and the dialogue that United Progressive Alliance government wants to hold with Pakistan.

"What message are we giving to the people regarding the way in which our internal security matters are being handled," she told mediapersons, reacting to comments made by the mome minister on the issue.

The party had on Tuesday attacked Chidambaram for the "monumental lapse" in naming Khan in a list of fugitives given to Pakistan and said it was an "unpardonable mistake" committed by the government which has embarrassed the country.

Sitharaman said, "It would serve the people very well if the home minister accepts the great lapse in all modesty rather than blaming other wings within his own ministry and then speaking to cover the fact that we are taking responsibility."

The spokesperson also took exception to the home minister's comment when he referred to L K Advani, saying that as home minister, Advani did not know that three terrorists in custody were taken out of jail in December 1999 and taken to Kandahar by the then foreign minister.

"While not blaming anybody and taking the entire responsibility, it would be definitely appropriate if the home minister looks at what has happened to his "so called efficient Ministry" rather than refer to incidents which have been explained over and over again earlier, she said.