The Hindu : 'Advani weakening fight against terrorism'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 05, 2002

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'Advani weakening fight against terrorism'

By Our Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD Dec. 4. The Congress chief whip in the Lok Sabha, Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, today launched a scathing attack on the Deputy Prime Minister, claiming that L.K. Advani was ``responsible for weakening the fight against terrorism.''

Mr. Dasmunshi, who was in Gujarat to campaign for his party in the December 12 Assembly elections, said though the BJP leaders were accusing the Congress of non-cooperation in the fight against terrorism, the ``truth lies elsewhere.'' He said it was Mr. Advani who had been making contradictory statements that could ``benefit'' Pakistan.

He wondered how Mr. Advani `foresaw' a possible terrorist attack on Parliament on December 13 last year, as he had made a statement in Mumbai to this effect before the incident, or the attacks on the temples. This `proved' that even though the Centre was in possession of intelligence reports, it had failed to take any steps to prevent the attacks.

He said the defence and external affairs ministries themselves were making contradictory statements about increase and decrease in cross-border terrorism since the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, announced a few steps earlier this year. He doubted the ability of a Government wrought with such `internal contradictions' to tackle terrorism.

Mr. Dasmunshi said the entire country was united in the fight against terrorism and Parliament had passed unanimous resolutions twice giving full support to the Government to take any steps to curb the menace. Yet it had failed to initiate necessary measures. The recent spurt in terrorist attacks had created an apprehension in the minds of the people that the country was not safe in the hands of the BJP-led Government, he said.

He accused Mr. Advani of making ``irresponsible statements'' about the recent riots in the State to take advantage in the Gujarat elections, ignoring the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee's advice.

Criticising the Chief Minister, Narendra Modi's earlier statement that the post-Godhra riots could have been avoided if the Congress had immediately condemned the Godhra train carnage, Mr. Dasmunshi said this was a deliberate move to make political capital out of the ghastly incident. He said the first leader to condemn the train carnage was the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi. The delegation led by her was also the first to meet the Prime Minister, demanding penal action against the perpetrators, he claimed.

Meanwhile, the State Congress Seva Dal chief, Umakant Mankad, resigned from the party today in protest against ``favouritism'' by the president, Shankarsinh Waghela, in the distribution of ticket for the Assembly elections.

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