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Be clear on policy against terror, BJP tells Centre

Special Correspondent

India high on terrorists' agenda, says Arun Jaitley

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday said that the Government would have to be clear in its action and on its policy against terrorism as the country appeared high on the agenda of terrorists.

Talking to reporters after an emergency meeting here on Sunday morning to take stock of the situation following Saturday's serial bomb blasts here, BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley said that India's dialogue with Pakistan should re-emphasis the need to dismantle terrorists camps across the country.

The meeting was attended by senior party leaders, including former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, BJP president L.K. Advani, Jaswant Singh, Sushma Swaraj and Rajnath Singh.

"The Prime Minister is right when he says that terrorism will never defeat India. But will India defeat terrorism," Mr. Jaitley asked, adding that if India had to defeat terrorism, it could not be done by words alone. "Our national resolve to fight terrorism must be apparent in our actions and policy also."

Expressing concern over the loss of lives in the blasts, Mr. Jaitley said it suggested that India was high on the terrorist agenda. The ability of terrorists to strike at will in the capital, particularly when security was strengthened during the festival season, was a cause of worry.

Mr. Jaitley argued that soft borders had facilitated illegal infiltration on the eastern as well as western border, rendering "India a soft target and a soft state.'' He said the blasts gave an opportunity to strengthen the national resolve to fight terrorism, but it must be reflected in our national policy. The entire national stands together to preserve our integrity and defeat terrorists.

To a question on the repeal of Prevention of Terrorists Act, Mr. Jaitley said it had sent an encouraging signal to terrorists.

Congress reaction

The Congress has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of indulging in "partisan politics" regarding Saturday's serial blasts.

Responding to the BJP's allegation that the Centre was soft on terrorists and that the repeal of POTA had encouraged terrorist violence, Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said it was unfortunate that the party was indulging in "partisan politics" instead of rising to the occasion and condemning the terrorist act.

Speaking to reporters here on Sunday, Mr. Sharma said it was wrong to say that the repeal of POTA had encouraged terrorism because when Parliament and Akshardham were attacked, the law was still in place. "We as the main Opposition then had condemned the attacks and extended unqualified support to the Government (National Democratic Alliance). Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party president Sonia Gandhi were among the first ones to visit victims, be they the earthquake victims in Kashmir or those injured in the bomb blasts. "None of the BJP leaders has visited the victims and are only issuing statements from the party headquarters."

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