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A decisive battle has to take place: PM
By Harish Khare
NEW DELHI, DEC. 13. Responding to the terrorist attack on the Parliament House, the Vajpayee Government has asserted that ``we will liquidate the terrorists and their sponsors wherever they are, whosoever they are''. This assertion was made in a resolution passed by the Union Cabinet this evening.
However, briefing newsmen, the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, did not elaborate whether this meant the Government was considering the ``surgical strike'' option against the militant bases (across the Line of Control). All that he said was that ``the resolution was clear enough''.
A similar sentiment was earlier echoed by the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, in a brief ``message to the nation''. He said the attack ``was not just on a building, but a warning to the entire nation, and we accept the challenge. We will defeat each one of their (terrorists') attack''.
Mr. Vajpayee saw today's attack as the continuation of the two-decade-old terrorist onslaught against India and added that ``our fight is now reaching the last stage, and a decisive battle would have to take place. The entire country is united in this hour of crisis''.
There has been a marked note of restraint in the Government's reaction, for now. Its response was conditioned by the fact that so far it has not been possible to identify any group responsible for the daring attack. No group has claimed responsibility, and Pakistan has been quick to condemn the attack.
The refrain is to claim today's incident as an indication of the effectiveness of the security set-up. Notwithstanding the fact that the terrorists did sneak into the Parliament House complex, the official contention is that these people were gunned down without any massive loss of life to either the security personnel or the political leadership.
Mr. Advani was quick to dismiss the suggestion that there was any security lapse due to intelligence failure, as there could be no absolute fool-proof protection against those indoctrinated in the `fidayeen mentality'. He invited attention to the fact that Indira Gandhi was shot dead by those who were oblivious to the consequences; ``no one can say Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was not adequately protected.'' Before the full Cabinet met to pass the resolution, condemning the terrorist attacks, the Cabinet Committee on Security met. The Prime Minister is believed to be dismayed that the terrorists could stage a spectacular attack on the Parliament House complex, but is also reported to be determined that no punches be pulled in the battle against the terrorists.
There is a general sense of satisfaction that the international community, including Pakistan, has been quick to condemn the attack. It is this international response that for now has slowed down those within the security establishment who otherwise would have been arguing for a very strong response.
Parliament to meet, adjourn sine die:
The Union Cabinet is believed to have decided that when Parliament meets tomorrow to condemn the terrorist attack, after the Prime Minister, Mr. Vajpayee, and the Leader of the Opposition, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, will have spoken, the Lok Sabha should adjourn sine die, bringing the current session to a premature end.
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