Monday, May 27, 2002
Monday, May 27, 2002 |
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By Kanwar Yogendra
The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, laying the foundation of the Rohtang Pass tunnel at Bahang near Manali on Sunday. The Defence Minister, George Fernandes, (extreme right ) and the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, P.K. Dhumal, (centre) look on. — PTI
International opinion, which had strongly criticised the Parliament attack, had suggested India should be patient and that similar incidents would not be repeated, Mr. Vajpayee said. But that proved to be wrong, terrorist attacks continued, and after the recent massacre by terrorists in Kaluchak, India wants ``to put an end to the game of blood-letting.'' The Prime Minister was speaking at the foundation-stone laying ceremony for a 9-km-long, Rs-1,300 cr tunnel under the 13,500-foot high Rohtang Pass which when completed would provide an all-season road connection between Leh and Manali which remain cut off for most of the year. The project was not only intended to speed up development in the region but was also a long-felt security need, he said. Development and security were interconnected, one could not take place at the expense of the other, he emphasised.
Fernandes briefs PM
The Defence Minister, George Fernandes, who was also present at the function, briefed the Prime Minister during the day on the latest security scenario in relation to the build-up at the border. The burden of Mr. Vajpayee's address was that India had paid heed to international opinion earlier. It had resisted the temptation to retaliate despite grave provocation; it had been through the Kargil misadventure by Pakistan, and now its patience had run out. Clearly, international pressure on Pakistan to deliver on the promise to end cross-border terrorism against India had not worked. And now it was time for India to act, for our people to be ``ready to make sacrifices''. The world should understand that there was a limit to our patience (``antarrashtriya jagat is baat ko samjhe ki Bharat ke sahan karne ki bhi seema hai''... ) The signal from the Prime Minister was that India's aim was clear and well-focussed — victory over terrorism — and for this it was ready to make the necessary sacrifices, ready to face the challenge. PTI, UNI report: The National Security Adviser, Brajesh Mishra, who attended a meeting of the Atomic Energy Commission at Kalpakkam near Chennai on Saturday, met Mr. Vajpayee here today. Mr. Mishra, who arrived this aftenoon, gave a detailed briefing to the Prime Minister, according to the Prime Minister's Office sources.
PM may cut short visit
Mr. Vajpayee is likely to cut short his sojourn in Manali and return to Delhi due to the prevailing security situation and simmering tension on the border. The Cabinet Committee on Security will meet to take stock of the situation as soon as he returns to Delhi. The Prime Minister was scheduled to stay here till May 29.
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