Sunday, June 26 2005 16:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre proved to be 'a failure' to tackle the security concerns of the country which was evident from recent developments like the visit of the Hurriyat leaders to Pakistan, growing infiltration from Bangladesh and influx of Maoists, BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley said.

"The Hurriyat people were allowed to visit Pakistan and even they returned through Islamabad with out proper check up on visas and Pakistan, on the other hand, maintained that no formal objections were registered by India in this connection.

All these have created security hazards for India", Jaitley said that while addressing the state executive meeting of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Claiming that terrorism took the 'centre-stage' of the discussion when the erstwhile National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee had held bilateral talks with Pakistan, he charged the UPA Government with "inept and inappropriate handling" of the Kashmir issue during its talks with Islamabad.

Castigating the Centre for declaring 'ceasefire' with the Maoists in Andhra Pradesh, he said that the daring attacks of Maoists on a police station, house of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP and banks at Madhuban in Bihar's East Champaran district on June 23 also proved "intelligence and security failure." The influx of Maoists in fact caused major security problem, Jaitley said.

"All these happenings in the recent past have made it evident that the Centre is too weak to handle the security of the country", he said.

Jaitley also referred to the infiltration from Bangladesh and alleged, "The situation is further worsening."