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'Nation watching J&K Govt. on terrorism front'

By Anjali Mody

A schoolgirl receives a bicycle from the Deputy Prime Minister, L. K. Advani, during the celebration of the Jharkhand State formation day in Ranchi on Friday. — Photo: Ranjeet Kumar

On board Advani's aircraft NOV. 15. A new Government in Jammu and Kashmir would make no difference to Pakistan's attitude to the State. The Government in Kashmir may have changed and "the government which was the bete noir of Pakistan may no longer exist, but this does not mean that the new Government will be any more acceptable," the Deputy Prime Minister, L. K. Advani, has said. "The present Government of Jammu and Kashmir would understand this in the near future."

Mr. Advani insisted that cross-border terrorism remained the chief concern. Referring to the People's Democratic Party's election promise of disbanding the Special Operations Group in the State, he said that although "for reasons of an election they may have made some promises" the ruling coalition in Kashmir was as concerned as the Centre about terrorism. He had repeatedly been requested not to withdraw "or at least to delay the withdrawal'' of Central forces posted in the State for the election.

Mr. Advani said that the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, had met him and the Prime Minister prior to forming the coalition. They had told him that the two priorities for the State were "gaining victory over cross-border terrorism" and economic development. The Centre would support the State on both counts.

Asked about the State Government's decision to release former militants and the "pro-independence" leader, Yasin Malik, Mr. Advani said "every Government has certain powers under the Constitution." The Centre "cannot not give the State Government instructions on what to do." But while taking a decision, the Jammu and Kashmir Government "should keep in mind that the entire nation is waiting to see how it deals with it." For any decision on terrorism, the PDP would be answerable to the people of Kashmir but "Congress, a coalition partner, would be answerable to the whole country."urning to the Nagaland issue, he said that Muivah, leader of the NSCN (I-M), would, in all likelihood "come to Delhi" for talks. "We have told them that we do not want to talk to them abroad and that they must come to India." A condition that Mr. Muivah had placed for travelling to India was that the ban on his party should be lifted. In response to a question, Mr. Advani said "there are certain conditions that we have said must be honoured, and most probably the ban will go."

K. Balchand reports from Ranchi:

Earlier, talking to reporters, Mr. Advani said that the Gujarat Government would take necessary action with regard to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's refusal to accept the Election Commission's directive banning its proposed yatra. He denied having had talks with the VHP leaders and maintained that he had no intention of doing so.

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