Date:09/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/09/stories/2006090904671200.htm

National

Attacks will continue till Pakistan is controlled: Vajpayee

Neena Vyas

DEHRA DUN : Terror attacks in India will continue till Pakistan is controlled, the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said here on Friday while referring to the Malegaon attack in Maharashtra. He demanded that the Government strengthen intelligence gathering and take strong action to curb terrorism.

Speaking at a public meeting here, hours after the terrorist attack in Malegaon, Mr. Vajpayee said that the place had repeatedly witnessed such murderous incidents. This had happened when the Mumbai blasts case remained unsolved.

While favouring the continuation of talks with Pakistan, he recalled the India-Pakistan joint statement of January 2004, when Pakistan agreed not to allow territory controlled by it to be used for attacks against India.

BJP president Rajnath Singh blamed the Government's "soft policies" for the rising number of terror attacks and said that by repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act, it had sent out a wrong signal.