BJP's no to Akali demand for release of Khalistanis

The BJP doesn't agree with the demand of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to release 13 Khalistani terrorists serving life sentence in five states, BJP president Amit Shah said Thursday.

"The BJP doesn't agree with this," he told a news conference here, when asked about the request from its ally.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has reportedly written to the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka and Gujarat and the Lt Governor of Delhi and Chandigarh's administrator seeking "premature release" of the prisoners.

On government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, Shah said talks were on with other parties.

He denied that article 370 of the constitution, which gives special status to the state, or any other issue was proving a hurdle in government formation.

"Talks are on. There is no issue," he said.

He said although repealing article 370 was on the Bharatiya Janata Party's agenda, it can take a decision on the issue only after talks with potential allies in Kashmir.

"We have no clear majority. The government has to be formed. We are discussing with other parties. We will decide. We can't hide. We have to place it before the nation," he added.

Shah said the Modi government had created an atmosphere of confidence in the country and people now believed that a change can be brought about.

Claiming that the government had succeeded in controlling prices, he said the average monthly budget of a household had come down by Rs.1,500 to Rs.3,500.

On bringing back black money stashed abroad, Shah said the government had made progress. He said it was for the Supreme Court and Special Investigation Team (SIT) to make public the names of account holders.