Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal's demand on terrorists shocking: Congress

\NEW DELHI: Congress today described as "shocking" the demand of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for premature release of 13 convicted terrorists and asked BJP to break its alliance with Akali Dal besides sacking its minister in the union government.

Contending that Badal's demand was a "serious matter", Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi alleged that it was being done "at the behest of the Babbar Khalsa international."

Badal has written to Chief Ministers of five states, asking for premature release of 13 convicted terrorists, including those responsible for assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh.

Badal's demand is "shocking", Singhvi said and questioned why there was no reaction from the government on it.

He sought to corner the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi by wanting to know whether the ruling party would "dissociate" itself from the Akali Dal and remove its representative from the Central cabinet forthwith.

"We have not heard any denuciation, condemnation (of the demand) and any call for strongest possible action from the BJP" at a time when the Prime Minister often talks of national soverignity, security and pride, the Congress spokesman said.

BJP must come clean on this, he told reporters, adding "The nation is entitled to know unequivocally and strongly " whether the Prime Minister has condemned Badal over the issue.

Badal has written to Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka, Gujarat and also to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and Administrator of Chandigarh seeking release of the terrorists sentenced to life term.

Asked whether Badal's demand was a fit case for dismissal, he told the questioner "why do you make martyrs of such people".