Date:07/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/07/stories/2007040706111300.htm

National

Talk tough, ask Pakistan to stop sending terrorists: Fernandes

Staff Correspondent

"Going by the present situation, it is better to sever all ties"

Troops pullout will be dangerous

"No one is minority in our country"

DAVANGERE (Karnataka): It is high time India told Pakistan in the strongest words to stop sending terrorists across the border, the former Defence Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader George Fernandes said on Friday.

Pakistan, on the one hand, said it was ready for talks, and on the other, it was sending trained militants to disturb the peace here.

"Going by the present situation, it is better to sever all ties with Pakistan and declare it our enemy. Though a war is unlikely in the immediate future, it would prove dangerous if we fail to protect our country from neighbours such as Pakistan and China," Mr. Fernandes told presspersons here.

Referring to the Allahabad High Court decision that Muslims were not a minority in Uttar Pradesh, he said there should not be groupings as minorities.