BJP seeks NIA probe into case of 21 missing youths from Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 20 (PTI) BJP today sought a probeby the National Investigation Agency into the case related tothe 21 "missing" youths from Kerala, who are suspected to havejoined terror outfit Islamic State. The Kerala government should respond in favour of an NIAprobe in the case as ISIS has become a national securitythreat, BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said. "We all should unite to fight terrorism. The mattershould not be looked on religious or communal limes. The stateshould co-operate in the probe," he said on the sidelines of amedia workshop for BJP activists here. "We have to save the youths as they are the future of thecountry," he said. On the performance of the NDA government, Sharma said itwas a "corruption free and transparent" administration andclaimed that government had succeeded in checking price riseof essential commodities. "When the NDA came to power, the inflation rate was 10per cent and now it is 6 per cent. We are committed to bringit down to 4 per cent," he said, adding that barring dal,prices of other food articles were under check. Attacking the previous Congress led UPA government, theBJP leader said it was a government immersed in corruption. "Not a single day passed without a debate on onecorruption case or other during the UPA regime." Compared to that, in the last two years, there was not asingle case of graft allegation, he said. The BJP leader also hit at the ruling CPI-M-led LDF andCongress headed opposition UDF in Kerala and alleged that boththese Fronts had "looted" the state during their rule. Referring to political violence in the state, Sharma saidCPI(M) leaders should rein in their cadres and "stop killing"BJP workers. "We want them to fight us ideologically and notphysically," he added. Sharma also said that Centre would support developmentprojects in Kerala. The media workshop focused on the achievements of theNDA government. Reffing to NDA’s slogan of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’,Sharma spoke about welfare schemes, including crop insurancefor farmers and health card initiated by the government in thelast two years. PTI JRK LGK APRRT