BJP

New Delhi: The Government has included Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh in the National Integration Council (NIC), a move slammed by opposition BJP as "shocking" because of his utterances over the Jamia encounter. Singh's appointment comes just ahead of the NIC meeting in New Delhi on Monday, during which the violence against Christians in Orissa and Karnakata are expected to dominate. The government's decision is seen as a step aimed at reciprocating the SP's help in bailing out the ruling UPA in the July 22 confidence motion.

"It is unfortunate that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has appointed a person to the NIC, who is working as a force of disintegration in the country and creating a divide in the society by his shameful and thoughtless utterances," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters while reacting to the development. He alleged that Amar Singh was involved in glorifying terrorists and raising doubts over the sacrifice of a police officer like M C Sharma, who died fighting terrorists in the Jamia Nagar encounter here.

"The appointment of such a person, who glorifies terrorists, certifies suspects as innocents and raises doubts over the great sacrifice of Inspector M C Sharma in the Jamia Nagar encounter, has come as a shock," Javadekar said. "This is actually a denigration of the NIC that such a person has been appointed by the Prime Minister," he said, adding that "the appointment appears to be a payback for all the services that have been rendered by Amar Singh for the survival of the UPA government by manufacturing majority through cash-for-votes scandal." (PTI)