Saturday, January 1 2005 19:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) today (Jan 1, 2005) hinted at cornering the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government over the rescue and relief work done in tsunami-hit areas, saying, "Many questions will arise" over the handling of the tragedy.

BJP's Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha V K Malhotra said that BJP-run State Governments would adopt villages in the devastated areas, "especially where less relief is reaching", for their rehabilitation.

"Many questions will arise but this is not the proper time for discussing such issues," Malhotra told reporters when asked whether the Opposition was satisfied with the Central Government's handling of the situation.

"At the moment all should concentrate on rehabilitation works," he said as 10 trucks with relief material from Delhi BJP for tsunami-hit areas were flagged off.

Malhotra flagged off the convoy jointly with BJP's Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha Sushma Swaraj, Delhi BJP President Harsh Vardhan and Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Jagdish Mukhi.

Apparently referring to the Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal, Malhotra said, "Union Ministers are speaking in different voices" over the issues, related to the tragedy and subsequent events.

"The Government will also have to answer the delay in flashing a warning of Tsunami waves in coastal areas last Sunday even though the tidal waves hit India two hours after the giant quake off Indonesia coast," the BJP leader said.

He also criticised the UPA Government for not convening an all-party meeting immediately after the disaster, which killed over 10,000 people in India alone.