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Gujarat events a shame: PM

By Amit Baruah

The Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, with the Indian Ambassador for the U.S., Lalit Mansingh, at a reception hosted by the latter in New York on Friday. — PTI

NEW YORK Sept. 14. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, has reiterated that the Gujarat riots were not a "good thing.'' Addressing members of the Indian community at a reception on Friday night, Mr. Vajpayee said that wherever he went, there was a discussion on Gujarat. The Gujaratis themselves said that they indulged in riots every two years, but this was "not good."

``A situation should not be created at home which forces us to bow our heads in shame before others (abroad),'' Mr. Vajpayee said. In what was a distinct aside in his otherwise general speech on India and Indians living abroad, he sought to reinforce his "moderate'' image in the light of the happenings in Gujarat.

Earlier, Mr. Vajpayee was told by a delegation of the American Federation of Muslims from India (AFMI) that there was need to ensure that India's secular, pluralistic status was not compromised. Attacking the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the AFMI chief, A. Rahman Nakedar, said the authorities had allowed a "free hand'' to killers and looters in Gujarat. "We are disappointed with the Gujarat Government's handling of relief, rehabilitation and compensation for victims of the carnage. The process has been slow and discriminatory... Our aim in seeking this meeting was to request the Prime Minister to ensure the fullest and earliest rehabilitation.''

Speaking in Hindi, Mr. Vajpayee was relaxed and dwelt at length on both politics and poetry. He repeatedly said that the "map of India could change'' if the work culture adopted by non-resident Indians could be taken back home. Conceding that the poor quality of leadership was a factor that contributed to the poor work ethics in India, he said he never expected to be Prime Minister and certainly did not think that he would keep his job for so long. "Ab to koi hatane ki baat bhi nahin karta hai'' (no one even talks of removing me now). And the Opposition had been helpful in this regard.

While extolling the achievements of Indians abroad, Mr. Vajpayee expressed concern over the proliferation of Indian organisations and called on the groups to sink their differences and work together.

The Prime Minister said that foreign visitors these days did not ask him questions on the NDA Government's political stability; the reason for this stability was its ability to take as many people as possible along. He complimented the External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, for visiting the South Asian neighbours and opening a "new chapter'' in foreign relations.

On terrorism, he said the events of September 11 had touched a chord in the people here. But, India had been fighting terrorism for long. ``There is a need to understand the real character of terrorism,'' Mr. Vajpayee said, and referred to the speech of the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, at the United Nations. It was stated that the roots of terrorism had to be examined but there could be no reason for supporting the slaughter of innocents. It appeared as if the world was not "well prepared'' to take on the terrorist menace.

Ending his speech with a poem of his, Mr. Vajpayee took a friendly dig at his host and Indian Ambassador to the U.S., Lalit Mansingh, for reciting one of his poems wrong. ``The ambassador read my own poem wrong in my presence. It's a warning to me not to write poetry in future.''

The Minister for External Affairs, Yashwant Sinha, who also spoke at the function, attacked Gen. Musharraf, saying that India would not be "cowed down'' by the threat of cross-border terrorism. "Let no one be in doubt about our will and capacity to combat cross-border terrorism.'' It was easy for the world to sermonise, but it was India which had to bear the brunt of terrorism.

Talking of Mr. Vajpayee's leadership qualities, Mr. Mansingh said that he was a symbol of the "good and the great'' in India.

Earlier, Mr. Vajpayee met many delegations from a cross-section of Indian organisations in the U.S.

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