Don't lower the guard, Govt. told

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 23. Political parties across the spectrum have condemned Friday's suicide attack on Army personnel at the Red Fort and have asked the Government to remain vigilant and not to lower its guard.

The main Opposition party, Congress, termed last night's incident an ``extremely serious security lapse'' and demanded that the Government make a comprehensive statement on the incident. The party also demanded that the Home Minister and the Defence Minister ``institute an immediate enquiry and ensure that such serious lapses do not occur''.

Raising questions about the security, in the light of the reported threats by the Lashkar-e-Taiba to strike in the capital, the party in a statement wondered how armed militants could enter such a high-security area, kill three Army jawans and escape.

The BJP general secretary, Mr. Narendra Modi, described the attack as a desperate attempt on the part of the terrorists to remain in the news after being repeatedly thwarted by the Government. Mr. Modi said those wielding the gun and trying to spread communal hatred had been made to bite the dust by the Prime Minister's offer of the Ramzan ceasefire. ``So, out of frustration, they have resorted to killing innocents.''

The Government, he said, would neither waver from its path nor allow such elements to ``get away with their crimes''.

Condemning last nights incidents, the CPI(M) politburo echoed the Congress' views. ``That the militants could barge into such a sensitive area catching the security forces unawares reflects a serious security lapse,'' said a party release.

The party also cautioned the Government and the security forces against lowering their guard under the influence of extending the ceasefire in Kashmir. ``The security and intelligence lapses during the Kargil war, for which the country paid heavily, must not be repeated.''

The TDP, an ally of the BJP, asked the Government to take the incident seriously. ``It is a serious security lapse especially in view of the coming Republic Day celebrations,'' said the party spokesperson, Mr. C. Ramachandraiah.

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