Date:02/11/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/11/02/stories/2002110205090100.htm

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`Trust' needed for talks : PM

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI NOV. 1. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, today made it known to the international community, which had been urging India to "talk'' to Pakistan, that this was possible only in an atmosphere of trust, something which had been breached by the neighbouring country through the Kargil incursion.

Speaking at the inauguration of the "Veer Awas" housing complex, built by the Delhi Development Authority for the families of those killed or seriously injured in the Kargil war, at Dwarka here, Mr. Vajpayee accused Pakistan — without naming it — of undertaking such a misadventure soon after India tried to approach it with a message of peace and friendship at Lahore.

Mr. Vajpayee said Kargil still reminded one of the high barren mountains, which were difficult to climb from the Indian side, and the challenge posed by the intruders from Pakistan, who came in not bravely but on the sly. "Our soldiers fought valiantly and laid down their lives in removing these intruders and retaining all our territory."

As such, Kargil had two faces. One of valour and sacrifice and the other of treachery. "India wanted peace with its neighbour, that is why I undertook Lahore, but see what I and the country got in return."

Mr. Vajpayee handed over the keys of five houses to the beneficiaries, including Girdhari Lal Bhatia, father of the Param Vir Chakra winner, Captain Vikram Batra.

His Government planned to build one crore houses for the working class under the Prime Minister's Shramik Awas Yojana. Besides, 20 lakh houses would be built each year under a national campaign to overcome the housing shortage.

The Defence Minister, George Fernandes, lamented that enough had not been done for the martyrs thus far. The housing project was an indebted nation's expression of gratitude to its brave soldiers and one of the many steps taken to ensure that their families did not suffer. The NDA Government had increased the ex-gratia compensation from Rs. 2 lakhs to Rs. 7.5 lakhs and then to Rs. 10 lakhs after Kargil. Also, petrol pumps and gas agencies had been allotted to these families.

Mr. Fernandes said that 300 medical units would soon be created at a cost of Rs. 250 crores, and an annual budget of Rs. 500 crores would be made for better medical care to defence personnel. About Rs. 16,000 crores had been earmarked for the construction of three lakh houses for them in the next three years.

The Union Labour Minister, Sahib Singh Verma, called for compensatory housing to the families of other martyrs as well. Incidentally, while 209 of the 414 flats in the complex had been allotted so far, the rest would be given by the Army to families of other personnel killed or seriously injured in action.

The Lieutenant-Governor, Vijai Kapoor, said the Veer Awas complex was disabled-friendly and gave Rs. 3 lakhs to the Chief of the Army Staff-designate, Lt.-Gen. N.C. Vij, for construction of a medical room therein.