Dubbing Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's address from the ramparts of Red Fort on the occasion of India's 67th Independence Day as uninspiring, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday said the former failed to address key concerns, including terrorism and tension on the Line of Control (LoC).
BJP General Secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy said it is a lackluster speech made by the honourable Prime Minister from the Red Fort.
"I was eagerly waiting to see what the Prime Minister would like to say to the nation on the front of the economy, which has almost collapsed. I wanted the Prime Minister to talk on employment in this country. I would have been even happier if the Prime Minister would have talked about corruption and the commitment of the government to fight corruption," said Rudy.
"The BJP is most disappointed that the Prime Minister did not even have a passing reference about terror, about Pakistan, about the tension on the border and how to protect the nation. It is not only lackluster, it is disappointing. The hollow claims made by the Prime Minister are absolutely uncalled and I think the nation is disappointed," he added.
In his last Independence Day speech before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the Prime Minister earlier in the day said it is imperative that for bilateral relations to improve between India and Pakistan, Islamabad must take all steps necessary to prevent its soil from being used for any anti-India activity.
Dr. Singh said India has also strived for friendship with our neighbouring countries.
"However, for relations with Pakistan to improve, it is essential that they prevent the use of their territory and territory under their control for any anti-India activity," he added, while apparently referring to the recent ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir along the Line of Control (LoC).
Earlier on August 6, five Indian soldiers were killed by Pakistani Specialist Forces on August 6 along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch District.
