'Kashmir massacre exposes Pakistan's designs'

By Our Staff Reporter

NELLORE, MARCH 22. The gruesome massacre of 35 Sikhs in South Kashmir was a barbaric act and Pakistan should be taught a lesson, said Mr. M. Venkaiah Naidu, General Secretary, Bharatiya Janata Party.

He told reporters here on Wednesday that by this massacre, Pakistan had once again exposed itself and it also helped countries of the world to know about its evil designs. The BJP leader wanted a constructive change in the thinking of people and political parties on such vital issues. Referring to the ongoing visit of President Clinton, he said it would lead to a better understanding of existing relations between the two countries. The visit would enable the dignitary to know about the problems faced by India including terrorism, he said. Mr. Naidu charged that Pakistan had been making a direct as well as indirect interference in the internal affairs of India with a sinister design to weaken the country, promote terrorism, breach of law and order and slackening of development activities. Pakistan's plans should be made known to world countries, he felt. The `direct' war has been going on for several decades.

Mr. Naidu felt that Pakistan appeared to have not learnt any lesson despite its debacle in Kargil and stunning defeat in Bangladesh. Accordingly, there was every need to declare it as a terrorist country. The BJP leader charged that Pakistan was not a civilised country as it was busy extending support to terrorists and the time had come to expose its evil designs. He made it absolutely clear that there could not be any talks or compromise on Kashmir as it had been time and again declared that it was an integral part of India. Talks could be held after calm was restored and only on return of Pakistan occupied Kashmir, he said.

The BJP leader said the situation in Kashmir was there for the last several years and earlier Governments had miserably failed to tackle the issue. The BJP Government had identified terrorists and eliminated more than 850 including some hardcore ones and the efforts would continue. Mr. Naidu said the BJP Government incurred the hereditary problems of Kashmir and asserted that both Centre and State Government would do all efforts to maintain peace. He dismissed the charge that the Central Government had failed to contain terrorism. At the same time he ruled out any autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir. However more economic assistance for development activities could be considered, he pointed.

Mr. Naidu expresed happiness about the agreement on Vision document during the visit of President Clinton. He asserted that there could not be any compromise on CTBT. Referring to some protests by Left parties over President Clinton's visit, he said they were making an unnecessary fuss about it. He reminded that Communist countries were also going in for foreign investments and have proved that they were losing existence. In the last general election the CPI-M lost its national identity and the Election Commission was going to issue a show cause notice to that party, informed Mr. Naidu. World over communism had lost its shape, he opined. About the hue and cry over revival of sick industries, the BJP functionary reminded that withdrawal of funds from PSUs commenced in UF Governments to which the communists were a party. He drew their attention that disinvestment was meant to revive sick industries.

Regarding the proposal for a fertiliser plant at Racherlapadu, near Nellore, by public sector gaint IFFCO, Mr. Naidu said earlier it was agreed in principle to locate the plant at the then prevailing estimates. Later, however, the Centre got a report that the project was not viable. A Cabinet decision was postponed earlier. He pointed that the project was conceived at a time when the Congress was at the helm of affairs at Centre. With the latest developments, both the State Government and peoples' representatives were in touch with the Centre to see that the project is revived. Mr. Naidu promised that efforts would be made to pursue and to make it a viable one and the position would be made known later. It was also proposed to meet the Prime Minister in this connection, he said.

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