http://sites. google.com/ site/hindunow/ terror-central PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE CORE COMMITTEE OF THE BJP, December 04, 2008
The four day long terrorist attack on Bombay, India’s commercial capital is a challenge that must be rebutted fully, visibly and tellingly.
Given that Pakistan has totally rejected all requests of the Government, we expect the Government is assessing the stern steps that are required to ensure that Pakistan desists from pursuing jihadi terrorism. As a nationalist party, the BJP shall stand by the government in the effective steps it takes in this regard.
To do so effectively it is vital that on the fundamentals of this challenge, which is a national issue, there obtains a consensus.
That is why it must be recognized that consensus cannot be ex-post facto, it can arise only from consultations. There must, therefore, be a full and comprehensive sharing of facts.
The UPA Government must accept that in the calendar months of 2008 alone, there have been around 48 terrorist attacks, in about 18 cities; several trains, hospitals, airports and now sea harbours have all come under attack. If all the violence unleashed by Maoists, ULFA and others is also taken into account then around 2,300 of our citizens have died on this account, in the year 2007 alone as reported. These facts themselves establish the gross failure of the UPA government in protecting the country from these jihadi predators. That is why the UPA must first demonstrate a clarity of assessment, commitment of purpose and a total resolve in this fight for our national security.
The UPA must also accept that Pakistan has engaged in such terrorism, as an instrument of state policy for almost two decades now, that it has gone back on the pledge it gave in Islamabad on 6 January, 2004 about not permitting the soil of Pakistan to be used for this purpose. Unquestionably, Pakistan as the crucible of terrorism has by now become its principal exporter.
The BJP, therefore, holds that India is not and cannot be made either the principal importer or a target of such an evil product.
The BJP will whole-heartedly co-operate with the UPA government in:-
(a) Immediately suspending the miscalled ‘peace process’ with Pakistan.
(b) Enacting the sternest possible anti-terrorism laws which ensure expeditious trial and conviction both of terrorists and those who assist them;
(c) Enabling all States of the Union to have uniform anti-terrorism laws – in particular, in clearing all pending anti-terrorist laws that have already been passed by the State Assemblies;
(d) Undertaking a total overhaul of the intelligence machinery of the Union government so as to achieve full and effective co-ordination between them;
(e) Enacting a comprehensive Federal Security Law and establishing a Federal Security and Investigating Agency;
(f) Establishing a new Police Reform Commission, revising Police training and equipment standards and improving the functioning of the NSG;
(g) Expediting the establishment of police posts along the coast, and placing the coast guard under command of the Indian Navy;
(h) Introducing a new code for media during national emergencies, along the lines of the post-Kargil reviews, and the UK Communications Act of 2003;
(i) Communicating effectively the complete facts of this attack to the international community, through every appropriate forum so that truth is not obscured by falsehoods perpetrated by the sponsors of terrorism;
(j) Urging the international community to press Pakistan to adhere to the commitments it has made, bilaterally to India and internationally in bodies like the UN, that it shall not allow its territory to be used for terrorist assaults on other countries;
The BJP, unambiguously, conveys to the Government of Pakistan that this road of confrontation chosen by them, after the recent terrorist attack on Bombay, is a perilous road, a blind alley with no exit and must be avoided.
The BJP-led NDA has experienced the full spectrum of Pakistan’s aggressive politics and policies, vis-à-vis India from Lahore to Kargil to Agra to 6 January, 2004. This last, a commitment of nil ‘tolerance of terrorist activity from the soil of Pakistan’ is the only wise policy. A blanket denial of the obvious is not and cannot be a worthwhile policy. It must be recognized by Pakistan that even ‘non-State actors’, assuming that to be their provenance, are after all operating from Pakistan’s soil.
Our two countries are neighbours, let us observe at least an elementary code of neighbourly conduct. To Pakistan we say: Do not please violate the above cited commitment of 6 January, 2004, also of all the UN resolutions and international opinions on terrorism.
A word for the US and other NATO countries: your own investigations have repeatedly established the hand of Pakistan in assaults of this kind, for instance, in the recent blowing up of the Indian Embassy in Kabul. We hope that you will see through the attempt that is being made at blackmail by insinuating that, unless you toe its line, Pakistan may dilute even such co-operation as it is giving in the fight against jihadi-terrorism. We hope also that you will see that each time you step in to bail it out, you only embolden Pakistan to continue on its destructive course.
The BJP believes that in the ultimate solution only lies with the people: they must ensure that power rests in the hands of persons who will always place the interests of our country above all else, who will never barter them for electoral gains.
http://bjp.org/ Press/dec_ 2008/dec_ 0408a_p.htm
Statement issued by Bharatiya Janata Party After Meeting of
Shri L.K. Advani,
Leader of the Opposition (Lok Sabha)
with Dr. Condoleezza Rice,
Secretary of State, US
New Delhi : 3rd December, 2008
To discuss recent events, in particular, the marine attack by Pakistani terrorists, US Secretary. of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice called on Shri L.K. Advani, Leader of Opposition, Lok Sabha at 4.00 P.M. today.
Shri L.K. Advani welcomed this opportunity to convey India’s outrage at such assaults continuing almost ceaselessly. He emphasized in particular, the sense of deep anguish of the people of India at such continuing attacks on India, and this despite the many assurances that Pakistan has given to stop all terrorist activity from the soil of Pakistan, in particular in the joint statement issued by Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and President Musharraf on 6th Jan., 2004.
Mr. Advani emphasized that, while the actual assault may have been executed by members of an organisation like LeT, the training, equipment, co-ordination that went into it established that it could not have been done except with the knowledge, guidance, training and resources of Pakistan’s agencies.
Secretary of State, Dr. Rice conveyed USA’s understanding of the situation and assured Shri Advani that the US would exert to ensure that these concerns are registered with the Pakistan authorities.
The core group of the BJP will be meeting tomorrow afternoon. After that a fuller elaboration of the Party’s assessment will be shared with the public.
