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Congress again calls for Advani's resignation

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

The Congress on Monday reiterated its demand for Union Home Minister L K Advani's resignation, underlining that the situation in Jammu has deteriorated considerably.

Party spokesperson Girija Vyas said an All India Congress Committee team -- comprising MPs S S Surjewala, Vinod Sharma and K M Khan -- had just submitted its report to party chief Sonia Gandhi. The team had toured the terrorist-inflicted areas of Poonch and Rajouri districts.

Surjewala described the ground situation in these districts as "grim". He said people had started migrating from Jammu.

Khan said the people were disillusioned with both the state and Union governments. There was a total absence of coordination between the civil administration and paramilitary forces, leading to utter confusion.

Although communal harmony still existed among the various sections of people, he continued, the situation was volatile and could lead to disastrous consequences. None of the non-Congress leaders had visited the affected areas, he said, adding that the initiative of the local Congress leaders have been widely appreciated.

The co-operation of the local people must be sought to bring back normalcy, Khan said.

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