Opposition leaves it to govt
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Dec 27 — The Opposition today urged the government to take necessary steps in resolving the hijack crisis keeping in mind the safety and security of the passengers and the interest of the nation.

The government today briefed leaders of the Opposition on the hijack of the Indian Airlines plane from Kathmandu on Friday.

“Whatever the government decides should be activated by two factors — safety and security of passengers and crew above all the interest of the nation”, Congress leader K. Natwar Singh told the media after the meeting held this morning at the Prime Minister’s residence.

Mr Natwar Singh said since the situation was changing rapidly it was for the government to decide on the best course of action.

The Samajwadi Party leader, Mr Amar Singh, also made a similar statement. He said the government was in best position to decide what needs to be done keeping in mind the interest of the nation and those of the hostages.

The CPM General Secretary, Mr Harkishen Singh Surjeet and the TDP leader, Mr K. Yerrannaidu also echoed similar sentiments.

However, Mr Natwar Singh parried questions on the stand taken by the opposition leaders on the hijackers demand for the release of Maulana Masood Azhar, Pakistani cleric held in Indian jail.

Apart from Mr Natwar Singh and Mr Amar Singh, the meeting was attended by the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, the CPM leader, Mr Harkishen Singh Surjeet, and the CPI leader, Mr Chittaranjan.

Mrs Sonia Gandhi asked the government to set up a group to interact with the families of the passengers who were held hostages.

The meeting called by the Prime Minister was attended by the Union Home Minister, Mr Lal Krishan Advani, the External Affairs Minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, the Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Sharad Yadav, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Pramod Mahajan, the Railway Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, and the Communications Minister, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan.