BJP raps Congress on ’shameful justification of terror’

New Delhi, January 9: The BJP on Friday criticised the Congress for its “shameful justification of terror attacks” around the world. Reacting to senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyer’s statement on Paris terror attack, Minister for Information Technology and Communications Ravi Shankar Prasad said it was shameful and the Congress party should answer this. Aiyer had said that terrorists will retaliate if there is violence in war on terrorism, and that the western countries will face a “backlash”. “It’s a shameful justification of terror...Congress should clarify on his statement,” the minister said addressing a press conference here. “I appeal that Congress should stop vote–bank politics on Paris terror attack,” he said.

“The entire world is speaking against terrorism but the Congress leaders are giving different statements,” the minister said. “We would like to ask Sonia Gandhi why is she silent on these statements,” Prasad said adding that the Congress would ask for answer from Prime Minister on every issue and did not even allow Parliament to function in the winter session. “Now why are they making conspicuous silence on these issues,” he asked. The minister also criticised the Congress for making “Pakistan–like” statements on “terror boat” issue.

“We are all quite intrigued by voices coming out from the Congress (on these issues),” he said adding that it was the same stand as that of the Pakistan, where the neighbouring country had denied the boat was carrying any terrorist. On being asked that his party leaders were also busy making controversial statements, the union minister said his party took “immediate action” and they had to apologise. (IANS)