Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Government today (Oct 5, 2004) took serious objection to senior BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader L K Advani's charge that it was "having links with extremists" and said such a view smacked of his "ignorance" about the situation in the State.

"It is unbecoming of a leader of Advani's stature to make such charges. Did anyone question his (Advani's) sincerity when as Union Home Minister he had initiated dialogue with Kashmir and Assam militants?" Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy wondered.

Advani's criticism of the Congress Government's naxal policy was highly deplorable, Reddy told reporters in Hyderabad.

Addressing a press conference in Delhi yesterday (Oct 4, 2004), Advani had accused Assam and Andhra Pradesh Government of having "links with terrorists". He had also objected to lifting of ban on naxalite organisation People's War Group (PWG).