BJP opposes minorities in military

New Delhi, July 26: The main Opposition BJP today accused the government of enabling ‘jehadi’ infiltration in the armed forces by carrying out what it called a special recruitment drive for minorities.

Party’s deputy leader in Lok Sabha Vijay Kumar Malhotra charged the government with lifting surveillance on madrassas suspected of holding ‘jehadi’ classes.

“There have been reports of LeT’s infiltration into the Indian Air Force and about terrorists joining the Indian Army. These things have happened because the government has given a go-ahead to jehadis to join the armed forces by allowing recruitment drive for minorities in military,” Malhotra told reporters.

He alleged that Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal himself has spoken about such a drive.

The BJP leader also flayed Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil for his “clean chit” to madrassas, alleging such a move aimed at lifting surveillance on Islamic schools suspected of carrying out anti-India activities.

“There is no surveillance in madrassas along Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh borders today, which is a matter of serious concern,” he said.

Malhotra, who accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of backing out from his earlier strong statements on Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai train bombings, also repeated his party’s “hot pursuit” suggestion to the government to deal with terrorism.

“We are ready to support the government if it is ready to destroy cross-border terror camps. But we cannot support it on its vote-driven soft approach on terrorism,” he said.