Date:02/12/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/12/02/stories/2002120204060100.htm

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Pak. not ready to change policy on terrorism: PM

By Kanwar Yogendra

SHIMLA DEC. 1. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, has said that Pakistan is not ready to change its policy on cross-border terrorism even after the change in political leadership there. He said he was ready to attend the SAARC summit if the neighbouring country stopped all type of infiltration but unfortunately Pakistan did not want to initiate the peace process.

The Prime Minister, who was addressing presspersons here in Barnes Courts where the historic Shimla agreement was signed, said "Pakistan should abide by the Shimla agreement and stop all terrorist activities in India."

Addressing a public rally earlier, he said "we are fighting and taking on the challenges from across the border, but we will not bend in any case and none can shake our faith or confidence by these attacks." He also cautioned that terrorists might target other religious places the way they had attacked the Akshardham and Raghunath temples.

Mr. Vajpayee, who had come to lay the foundation for the Rs.100-crore Mohan Shakti National Heritage Park in Solan, announced a special package for the backward districts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal. The Union Cabinet would shortly finalise the details and there would be exemption from excise duty and income tax to industries coming up in the backward areas.

On the Gujarat elections, Mr. Vajpayee said the BJP never wanted to raise the Godhra issue and it was not mentioned in its manifesto. But the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, was compelled to raise the issue by the Congress which was seeking a white paper on it. He said the parties should have a common opinion on maintaining communal ties, and tensions should not be created for electoral gains.

Mr. Vajpayee suggested that a screening committee be set up in Jammu and Kashmir for scrutinising the release of terrorists and assured help from the NDA Government at the Centre to the PDP-Congress Govt. He said he did not want to join the debate on `Hindu rashtra', but the country needed reconstruction and oneness in its being. He denied that there was any pressure from the VHP or the RSS on the NDA Government.

He refused to react to the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani's comment on a fourth direct war with Pakistan.

Relations with Russia were improving and since the two countries shared a common opinion on terrorism, economic and defence relations were being strengthened. On a possible Russia-China-India axis, Mr. Vajpayee said that nothing had come about except a meeting.

He said concrete steps had been taken for fighting drought conditions in 14 States and there was no dearth of foodgrains. The foreign exchange reserves had touched record proportions.

PTI reports:

Mr. Vajpayee said the previous Governments at the Centre had ``neglected'' defence because of world pressure, adding that the international community tried to pressure his Government also in 1998 when preparations were being made for the Pokhran nuclear tests.

``They said there is no need for our nuclear tests as they were there for our protection.'' But the Government went ahead with its plan, arguing ``if they don't come to our defence in the time of need, what will happen?'' He said the country's security must be ensured and development works must also go on. ``We will increase our economic development and industrialisation will grow.''

When the world, particularly the South-East Asian countries, were witnessing economic recession, India was ``moving ahead''.

Mr. Vajpayee assured that no step based on the Kelkar Committee on tax reforms would be taken which would hit the common man.