The Hindu : NDA Govt. a security threat: Arjun Singh

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 21, 2003

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National

NDA Govt. a security threat: Arjun Singh

By Our Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE July 20. The senior Congress leader, Arjun Singh, has said that the National Democratic Alliance Government at the Centre itself posed a security threat to the nation, with terrorists and communal and divisive forces having a free run, and with no firm foreign policy to sort out outstanding issues with Pakistan through sustained negotiations.

Reacting to the reported remark of the BJP spokesperson, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, implying that the Italian origin of the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, posed a security threat to the nation and hence she could not be considered for the post of Prime Minister, Mr. Singh told presspersons here today that, "they (the BJP) are talking of the future. When we look at the present, we can see the BJP-led NDA Government itself posing a security risk to the nation".

Symbols of unity such as Parliament and the Red Fort had come under terrorist attacks. "The Kargil war was not fought on the frontlines, but within the country. We are not fighting Pakistan from our doorstep but in our courtyard. So, who poses security risk," he asked.

The Congress had always wanted that the dialogue with Pakistan should not be broken, while at one stage during the tenure of the present Government, the entire Army was lined up along the border. Now, there was a call for peace talks. "There is no consistency or forethought. And that was why the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, could come to Agra and wreck the talks and go back and blame the people here for it," Mr. Singh said.

On the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani's observation that the Congress itself was adopting a "soft Hindutva" line, he said, "Mr. Advani spoke of what we do not believe in. Right from 1996, when we lost power, the Congress has been trying to unite all secular forces. In the present situation, Ms. Gandhi is the best person to consolidate these forces and it is in tune with what the Congress desires".

On the situation in Tamil Nadu, he said it was fluid. The Government lacked direction and the handling of the Government employees' strike was a pointer to that.

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