Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani on Saturday criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for failing to mention the Sharm-e-Sheikh Indo-Pak joint statement in his Independence Day address.
"Balochistan was mentioned in the joint statement in a manner as if India is also using terrorism to create problems for Pakistan. The country hoped the prime minister would clarify on it in his address. His silence shows he is realising now that there is no defence of this step," Advani said.
Advani said the fight against terrorism should be accorded top priority.
Meanwhile, in her Independence Day speech, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati criticised the central government for ignoring development schemes initiated by her government.
"The central government has still not released the Rs 80,000 crore package we sought for undertaking development schemes in the state, particularly for the backward regions in Bundelkhand and Poorvanchal," Mayawati said.
In Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said his government would not tolerate human rights violations by the security forces and also apologised for the lapses in the probe into the rape and murder of two women in Shopian district.
"I cannot overlook the tragic incident that occurred at Shopian. I accept that there were mistakes by the administration and the government initially with regard to this incident," Abdullah said.
"I am sorry and apologise for this. But my government is determined to bring the guilty to book in the Shopian incident," he added.
