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Cong., Left blame Govt. for lapse
By Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, DEC. 13. The Congress and the Left parties today strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Parliament but also held the Government responsible for the security lapse.
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) in its resolution said ``the incident brings out the monumental security and intelligence failure''. The CPI(M) demanded a probe into the security lapse, while the CPI sought an explanation from the Home Minister.
The Congress highlighted the fact that though the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) had been in force for the last seven weeks, the Government had done precious little to ``take pre-emptive preventive action'' despite prior information about a likely attack on Parliament. The party indicated that it was not about to change its position on POTO. ``The people must not delude themselves into believing that this attack happened for want of POTO, it happened despite that,'' said the party spokesperson, Mr. S. Jaipal Reddy.
The Left parties said it was a relief that none of the MPs was injured and that the Parliament building was not damaged. The CPI(M) politburo said Parliament was carefully chosen for the attack as it symbolised the democratic system. The CPI(M) and the CPI wondered how the suicide squad managed to enter the compound.
The Home Minister had warned about the possibility of such an attack. The recent bomb attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was a pointer. ``In this light it must be probed how this security lapse took place,'' the CPI(M) said.
The CPI said it was at a loss to understand how the suicide squad was able to enter the most secured precincts of Parliament. The attack came when there were repeated threats to target Parliament and some other important institutions. ``The Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, owes an explanation to the nation.''
It said the incident should not be used to sweep under the carpet the issues raised by the Opposition in Parliament, the party Central Secretariat said.
The CPI(M-L) said the incident pointed to ``serious loopholes and lapses in the security system of the country''. It said the Government should come out with the whole truth before the nation.
The Telugu Desam Parliamentary Party leader, Mr. K. Yerran Naidu, said it tantamounts to an attack on the people. Decrying all such acts of terrorism, it said the time was not to discuss lapses and failures but to remain united and speak with one voice.
It appealed to all parties and the nation to extend to the Government full support and unqualified cooperation at this juncture in putting down terrorism.
The Janata Dal (United) said the time had come to act against terrorists and give a reply to them in a ``language they understand''. The party spokesman, Mr. Mohan Prakash, appealed to the international community not to remain a silent spectator to such terrorist threats.
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