BJP must explain its record in handling security issues:

Dismissing the BJP allegation that the Congress manifesto for Lok Sabha polls was soft on terror, AICC in-charge of Congress affairs in Telangana R C Khuntia Wednesday said the ruling party should explain its record in handling security issues during the last five years.

"What are they doing? They should also explain....why terrorism is continuing? Why more forces are being killed? They should give the answer about five years," he told reporters here.

The BJP should first explain why there were allegedly more incidents, instead of asking another political party about its manifesto, he said.

"I think they don't have a right to say anything... they are in the government," Khuntia added.

 

He alleged the BJP wants to take credit (for good things) but does not want to take responsibility for anything wrong.

The Congress manifesto also dwells on national security, he said.

In significant proposals, the Congress, in its 54-page manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, on Tuesday promised to review the deployment of armed forces, move more troops to the border to stop infiltration completely, reduce the presence of the Army and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in the Valley and entrust more responsibility with the Jammu and Kashmir police for maintaining law and order.

Alleging that the BJP raised emotional issues in the election campaign, Khuntia asked why the party is not talking about economic issues, employment and poverty.

The unemployment figure was 3.8 crore in 2014 and it went up to 6.1 crore in 2018, he claimed.

He also said Congress president Rahul Gandhi contesting from Kerala sent out a message that he is also close to the southern states.

"Nobody is asking why Modi is contesting from Benaras (Varanasi). He will be defeated from Gujarat that is why he is coming to Benaras?," he said.

Asked how many seats the Congress expected to win in Telangana, he said the party is working to win all seats in Telangana (total 17).

The ruling TRS must explain to people what it has brought from the Centre for Telangana by having 16 MPs on its side (including those who defected to TRS from other parties), he said.

TRS has been urging the people to make it victorious in 16 seats (leaving Hyderabad to AIMIM), Khuntia said adding "this is an election for forming the government at the Centre and KCR has no stake on that matter," he said.

Khuntia also explained the minimum income guarantee and other schemes in the Congress manifesto.