Date:06/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/06/stories/2008030654851200.htm

National

“Sabre-rattling does not prevent terror”

Special Correspondent

PM castigates BJP on internal security

Morale of security agencies is high, says Manmohan
“Commitment to fight terrorism
is absolute”

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday described the instance of former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh escorting dreaded terrorists to freedom in exchange of the hostages of IC-814 plane as a “shameful sight.”

“The signal that went out in this case was that if the terrorists were determined enough, the government would merrily succumb to them,” Dr. Singh said as he castigated the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over internal security during his reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address to the joint session of Parliament.

“Sabre-rattling does not prevent terror. It requires efficient, effective policing and intelligence gathering. The morale of our security agencies is high and we will ensure that they are adequately equipped to meet their challenges,” he said.

Responding to the critical references made by the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani on the government’s performance in dealing with terrorism, Dr. Singh said he had no intention to score points against the Opposition on these issues. National security is too serious a matter for any kind of political one-upmanship, he said as he assured the House that his government’s commitment in the fight against terrorism was absolute.

“I do not need to remind this House about a dark day in 2001 when but for the fact that fate intervened and our vigilant Watch and ward Staff, our Parliament would have been the scene of a great deal of bloodshed,” he said as he reminded the members that India faced a dangerous enemy in terrorism and that we must maintain a constant vigil to prevent terrorism from succeeding in its nefarious designs.

Asserting that his government was resolute in defeating terrorism, Dr. Singh said the multi-faceted strategy had produced significant results. Making a special mention of Jammu and Kashmir, he said there had been a significant decline in terrorist violence and an upswing in economic and political activities.