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Army cannot remain in Gujarat for long: Fernandes

By Our Staff Correspondent

TUMKUR APRIL 7. The Defence Minister, George Fernandes, said here today that the tension on the border did not permit the Army to restore peace in Gujarat for long. He left no one in doubt that he was referring to the reported statement of the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, that Islamabad would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons in case of a war.

Mr. Fernandes was here to inaugurate the ``Guruvandana - 2002'' at Siddaganga math, near here. He said it was the duty of the Army to safeguard the country from external aggression and to maintain domestic peace. The forces had been posted along the border when violence erupted in Gujarat.

Some of the forces were withdrawn for deployment in the State. ``Due to the emergency situation, an instant decision was taken about this. Its repercussions were not thought of. However, this arrangement cannot be continued for long, given the situation along the border,'' he said and added that the domestic turmoil should be resolved immediately so that the country could unitedly face any aggression from outside.

`Economic progress hit'

Recalling the turmoil on February 28, a day after the Godhra incident, Mr. Fernandes said he had dispatched the military immediately after receiving a call from the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, and visited the areas the same night. However, he regretted that peace and order was yet to be restored. Certain sections were sabotaging national efforts towards building a strong India.

The Karnataka Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna said it was fortunate that the Gujarat carnage had not spread to other parts of the country. `` We must find out the fundamental defects in our social system and rectify them soon.'' Mr. Fernandes and Mr. Krishna greeted Shivakumara Swami of the math on his 95th birthday and said his life and work served as a model for others

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