Front Page
We'll respond to terrorism on many fronts: PM
By Malabika Bhattacharya
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, conferring honorary doctorate in literature, ``Desikottama,'' on sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan at a convocation ceremony in Viswabharati University at Shantiniketan on Saturday. - AP
SHANTINIKETAN (West Bengal), DEC. 15. In a veiled warning to Pakistan, the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, today said India's response to terrorism - a manifestation of which was the Thursday's strike on Parliament - would be unveiled across many fronts.
On a day's visit to the university town as Chancellor of Vishwabharati founded by Rabindranath Tagore, Mr. Vajpayee said the attackers on Parliament were ``beyond the pale of humanity.''
In his 20-minute address at Amrakunj, traditional venue for the Vishwabharati convocation, the Prime Minister did not name Pakistan and link it with terrorism directly but left no one in doubt on the identity of the ``neighbourhood promoter of terrorism.''
It was for the first time in the history of Vishwabharati that a Chancellor - always the Prime Minister - chose to dedicate a good part of the convocation address to ways to combating terrorism and violence reflecting a nation's contemporary concerns.
That Mr. Vajpayee's call for a tougher response to growing terrorism was aimed at Pakistan was further evident when he said that certain regimes (like that of Gen. Pervez Musharraf's) were found openly using terrorism as state policy.
``What is worse, acts of terrorism are sought to be justified in the name of religion, although no religion sanctions hatred and violence. We saw it on September 11 and we have seen it again on December 13,'' he said.
While laying in line India's concerns at the heightened violence and terrorism, the Prime Minister, however, underscored the need for an emphasis on truly meaningful education, the lack of which, he said, contributed to the spread of hate. But the country had resolved to deal with terrorism ``in other appropriate ways because we cannot expect its (terrorist's) sponsors to understand this fine relationship between education and peace.''
``Those behind the dastardly attack on our Parliament should know that India's democracy and India's people, cannot be cowed down by terror,'' he added.
Among those present at the convocation were the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Mr. K.C. Pant, the Trinamool Congress leader and MP, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, leading academics and cultural personalities.
About 2000 students received their degrees, diplomas and certificates from the Chancellor who, departing from practice, in a symbolic gesture, handed over a certificate made of the traditional `chhatim' leaf to the Vice-Chancellor marking the beginning of the day's proceedings. As he recaptured the looming shadow of terrorism, Mr. Vajpayee quoted Tagore - Chitta jetha bhay shunya uchha jetha sheer (Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high) - to build a bulwark against terror.
The current international campaign against terrorism, he argued, would be vastly strengthened if all countries adopted Tagore's vision of education.
Dwelling on education, Mr. Vajpayee rued the education system's increasing focus on material goods and comforts which, he felt, was turning many Indians into one dimensional personalities.
The Prime Minister-Chancellor was barracked by a section of students who insisted that they be given the certificates by the Chancellor himself. Placed inside a security ring, Mr. Vajpayee expressed his inability to do it and asked the Vice-Chancellor to do the job instead.
PTI reports:
One suspect was detained in Uttar Pradesh and two in Maharashtra, police sources said.
The second-hand white Ambassador car had been bought from a dealer in Karol Bagh area of central Delhi only two days prior to the attack and the buyer had given an address in Sopore, they said.
Personnel of Jammu and Kashmir police and `spotters' have arrived here to help in identification of the assailants and the suspects being rounded up.
Was woman suspect present in Parliament?
NEW DELHI, DEC. 15. One of the two women being questioned for her alleged links with the terrorist attack on Parliament was present in the visitors' gallery of one of the Houses on Thursday, police sources said today.
The two women - Sunita Sharma and Janaki Asrani, residents of Delhi - are suspected to have assisted the attackers in getting inside information about the building and the functioning of the Parliament House. - UNI
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Front Page
|
