Congress says its track record in tackling terror good

NEW DELHI: With the arrest of Indian Mujahideen founder Yasin Bhatkal, Congress today claimed the party-led government's "track record" in tackling terrorism is far better than that of any other government.


However, the opposition ridiculed the claim, saying Intelligence Agencies, working independently, should be given credit for their "excellent" job in nabbing the most wanted terrorist.

Talking to reporters outside Parliament House, both Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath and his deputy Rajeev Shukla said the Congress-led government was successful than non-Congress governments in tackling the menace of terrorism.

"Of course," Nath said when asked whether the prize catch of Bhatkal proves that Congress-led Government could effectively tackle terrorism.

"...in combating terrorism and dealing with these issues the Congress (government's) track record is far better than any other governments. Action and deeds spell that out very clearly," Nath said.

Shukla also spoke on similar lines and sought an apology from BJP for saying that Congress-led government was soft on terror.

Asked about the Minister's claim, CPI leader Gururdas Dasgupta said, "Indian intelligence has done excellent work. It has nothing to do with the Government...colour of the Government."

"Is he (Rajeev Shukla) working with intelligence agencies? ...It is not (for) the Government to decide the way of intelligence. If he says so, he is a fool," Dasgupta said.

He asked Shukla to tackle "corruption" in BCCI in which he is an office bearer.

Bhatkal, wanted in around 40 blast cases and carrying a reward of Rs 35 lakh, was arrested from Indo-Nepal border by intelligence agencies on Wednesday night.