National

Congress blames NDA for Kargil

NEW DELHI: Continuing its attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party on the issue of security, the Congress on Monday held the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s “huge negligence” responsible for the Kargil intrusion in 1999.

Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said the country would want to know from the then Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, L.K. Advani, as to how the Kargil intruders came to occupy 130 posts in 1999 and how Pakistan was sufficiently emboldened to commit Kargil (intrusion), when it had not dared to attack India directly or indirectly for 28 years from 1971 to 1999?

Deploring the track record of the BJP-led NDA on security issues, he said: “Between 1998 and 2004 they failed on all facets and fronts of terror and, yet, the then Home Minister has the audacity to lecture us.”

Mr. Singhvi charged the BJP with “specialising” in releasing and escorting dangerous terrorists out of the country, be it the hijackers of the IC 814 flight or the Purulia arms drop convict, Peter Bleach.

“What led to the sudden volte face in the government’s stated policy of not dealing with terrorists demanding hostages [in the case of IC 814 hijack] and what transpired between December 28 and December 31, 1999 leading to abject surrender by India?” he asked.

“This was entirely because of the negligence of the NDA government, although the Congress and the nation stood rock-solid, indeed in its attempt to expel those intruders. The nation has not even learnt about the huge negligence of the NDA government in allowing Kargil to happen which took 77 days to end.”

“Why was Afzal Guru released just before the attack on Parliament in 2001? Why was Peter Bleach let off after his clemency was twice rejected by President K.R. Narayanan and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam? Is it not a fact that the plane carrying Purulia arms stopped at Karachi? Is there any example ever of a person like Peter Bleach convicted of waging war against India being released?”

Mr. Singhvi said there was a lot that the BJP had to answer for. Whenever there was spurt in terrorism, the government extended a “cordial hand of friendship” to Pakistan and indulged in the luxury of bilateral talks which were not only utter failure, but extracted no commitment, be it the Lahore visit of the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in 1999 or the failed Agra summit with Pakistan in 2001.

“From late 1998 to mid-1999, there were several terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. After Mr. Vajpayee, returned falsely triumphed from Lahore in February, India learns of Pakistan occupation of 130 posts in Kargil in May 1999. In December 1999, the unprecedented Kandahar plane hijack took place. From 1998, there were terror attacks all over the country, including at the Raghunath temple, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, the Manipur Assembly and Akshardham. In January 2001, the Red Fort attack happened, and in December 2001 the attack on Parliament took place.”

“We believe in a united effort. We all have to fight terrorism together. Mr. Advani, it is you who has created a climate of insecurity and lifted the accusing finger towards us. Are you concerned about the nation or about politicking?” he said.

The Congress would continue to ask these questions till the nation got a reply.

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