PANJIM, MAY 7
Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) national President Nitin Gadkari today accused the Congress of appeasing terrorism in the name of secularism and said that with Naxalism on the rise, the UPA government seems to be taking the country to doom.
“Naxalism is on increase in the country. It has spread to 250 districts. Where are we heading?” Gadkari questioned addressing a public meeting at Azad Maidan here Friday evening.
Gadkari who was on his first ever visit to Goa after taking over the reigns of the party, said that the country is getting increasingly unsafe as the Congress government has no willingness to fight back terrorism and naxalism.
Using anecdotes after anecdotes on how Congress was silent on fighting terrorism, Gadkari said that Ajmal Kasab is 50th in the waiting list to be hanged.
“I am surprised why they are reluctant to hang Afzal Guru despite High Court and Supreme Court directing that he be hanged. This is sheer vote bank politics. Is he in-law of the Congress?” Gadkari questioned. Afzal Guru had masterminded the unprecedented attack on Parliament during the BJP-led NDA regime.
The BJP president addressed the rally which was also attended by party’s state leaders including Goa unit President Laxmikant Parsekar, leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar, North Goa MP Shripad Naik and other legislators.
“Pakistan continues waging war against India through terrorists,” Gadkari said. Post 9/11 there is no single terrorist attack on America while in India, the attacks continue, he said.
Accusing Congress for portraying BJP ‘like villain’, Gadkari claimed that BJP-led governments in Centre and in states like Goa had proved that the party was not against any community.
“We are against terrorists and against Congress for supporting terrorists,” he said.
Gadkari said that BJP will reach to five important sectors – Scheduled Caste, Schedule Tribes, minority, unorganized sector and friends of BJP who are professionals.
“We want to play politics of development and politics in the interest of nation,” he said adding that there is large scale misconception about the party that needs to be wiped out. Apparently treading a careful path, he didn’t stress on Hindutva – the core of the party.
Claiming that law and order situation is deteriorating across the nation, Gadkari said that Goa is an example of how the State government is silent even after attacks on foreigners by anti-social elements.
Gadkari said that the party with its governments in nine States is growing and has more legislators than Congress. He said that the party is also getting increasing acceptance in South India.
Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar speaking earlier said that State’s future is at stake considering the pace of corruption and irregularities committed by Congress-led government.
He said that Digambar Kamat-led government has no money to subsidise essential commodities but has enough wealth to spend on the foreign jaunts of its ministers.
BJP President Laxmikant Parsekar said that Congress government was responsible for illegal mining, drugs, corruption and deteriorating law and order situation in the State.
“Drug peddler Atla’s girlfriend has revealed that a minister’s son is involved in the drug trade but there are no efforts made by Home Minister Ravi Naik to find out the reality,” he added.
He termed the government as ‘government of 12 chief ministers’ in which all the chief ministers are busy focusing on their own constituency.
Shripad Naik said that Goa is one amongst the five corrupt states which indicates the governance provided by Congress government.
Other leaders including Damodar Naik, Mahadev Naik, Francis D’Souza, Kunda Chodankar and Vijay Pai Khot also spoke at the rally.
