New Delhi : Senior BJP leader L K Advani on Thursday described the law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir as "worrisome" but said the matter did not come up for discussion during his meeting with the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister.
"It is worrisome. At the same time it was not the subject of discussions today," Advani told reporters when asked about his opinion on the situation in Kashmir. He was speaking after a meeting with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
When asked if BJP would push for the army to be called back, Advani avoided a direct comment, saying, "Whatever will be fair, has been said by the party. I will not say anything about it today."
Advani discussed the withdrawal of industrial package to the hilly states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The former Deputy Prime Minister also discussed with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mukherjee about his pet issue of having a fixed term for Parliament and state legislatures.
"I had found that both these senior leaders, the PM as well as Leader of Lok Sabha, response was positive (for fixed term for Parliament). I added to it today that the UK government has finally come down to that view and they have made an announcement earlier this week," Advani said.
UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said that necessary legislation would be brought to fix term of House of Commons. The election date will also be fixed.
"Of course, they do not have the problem which we have of state legistlature. So I mentioned to him (Mukherjee) that why cannot we pursue it." Mukherjee said he would take up the issue with the Prime Minister, Advani said.
The senior BJP leader said issues related to electoral reforms and curbing of money power in elections were also discussed.
"Till now we have been hearing about bureacuratic corruption, political corruption, now even media corruption is there....," he said.
When asked about inflation, Advani said, "It is a matter of concern. Only day before yesterday, the country has given its reaction (through Bharat Bandh). But the matter did not come up today."
A BJP delegation, led by Advani and comprising of HP Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and Uttarakhand CM Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday evening to discuss restoration of the industrial package to these two hilly states. PTI
