JAMMU, Dec 1: BJP today asked the UPA Government to table in Parliament during its forthcoming winter session the Border Defence Agreement Cooperation signed with China by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Beijing in October. BJP president Rajnath Singh also said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not think of taking Parliament into confidence before entering into the agreement. “Recently Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited China where he signed the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement which has many controversial clauses. One clause, as I am made to understand, is that border forces of either country would not tail each other if they inadvertently entered each other’s territory,” he said, addressing a public rally here. “They (UPA) did not take Parliament into confidence. Parliament session is starting from December 5. We will raise this question in the Parliament…The agreement with China should be tabled in Parliament,” he said. The BJP leader also said India should issue stapled visas to Tibetans in response to China issuing such visas to those living in Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. “If China says it will issue stapled visa to people of Arunachal Pradesh and J&K, Prime Minister should tell China strongly that India will also issue stapled visas to people living in Tibet…This answer should be given to them,” Singh said. Criticising the stand taken by India during the incursion by Chinese troops into Indian territory, he said, “Chinese Army stayed in tents in DoB for 21 days. I want to ask the PM and External Affairs Minister why Chinese and Indian Army troops retreated? China had to leave as they had intruded into this side, but why Indian troops were forced to return from their own land? PM and External Affairs Minister should answer to people of India.” “If the Chinese Army enters into Arunachal Pradesh during patrolling, we request them to please leave. Is this what we hope from our Army? They (Government) have created bad situation,” BJP leader Rajnath Singh said. “China’s state of mind is that sometimes it says Arunachal Pradesh is its part and also some part of Kashmir. They are issuing stapled visa for AP and J&K people,” he said, asking the Indian Government to adopt a tit-for-tat policy and issue stapled visas to Tibetans. Criticising ruling Congress, Singh said “the opponent is trying to create a sense of fear about Narendra Modi. But BJP will try to create a sense of confidence to win hearts.” “There were riots in Congress-ruled Gujarat and Assam in 1969 and 1983, respectively. Did Sonia Gandhi call the chief ministers of those states as merchants of death then?” he said. Singh said Congress is in “depression” over the rising popularity of Modi. Referring to 24 vacant seats in J&K Assembly meant for candidates from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, he said, “Why so many seats are lying vacant in the State? They should be kept for refugees of PoK”. He said when BJP comes to power at the Centre, it will formulate National Refugees Welfare and Rehabilitation policy. “The people of J&K should decide whether Article 370 of the Indian Constitution should be abolished,” he said. Singh also took on the Centre over the killings of sarpanches (panchayat officials) in J&K by terrorists. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel