Job offer to Haneef was a 'healing touch': BJP

New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has offered a government job to Mohammad Haneef after his release from Australia.

Reacting to it, the BJP on Monday jumped on the bandwagon, calling the move a healing touch on the doctor who has been absolved of all terror charges.

"It's a healing touch," PTI quoted BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi as saying.

"All developed countries must realise that being a Muslim does not make a person commander of Osama bin Laden. They should take utmost care before branding anybody a terrorist," he added.

His comments came a day after Haneef flew Home to a hero's welcome after his release from an Australian jail when charges against him in connection with the failed UK terror plot were dropped.

In his remarks, BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar too endorsed the job offer to the doctor from Bangalore.

"We oppose victimisation of innocent people and stand for stern action against those involved in terrorism. He is a good doctor and the Karnataka government's move is a good gesture," he said.

But hardliners in the Sangh Parivaar, including those in the BJP itself, flayed the Karnataka Government for the move, calling it an act of Muslim appeasement.

"Have we injured anybody that we need to give this 'healing touch'. It's unfortunate that all parties, including the BJP, are pandering to this politics of rank appeasement," veteran leader B P Singhal said.

The BJP has in the past flayed the Jammu and Kashmir government for its "healing touch" policy in the restive state.