UPA inefficient to deal with terror

The recent serial bomb blasts in Jaipur, Bangalore and Ahmedabad have clearly indicated that the life and property of common man is virtually at stake under the UPA rule.

BJP has been vociferously advocating a strong policy on terror which includes a multi-pronged and integrated action against terrorism, for the past four years. The UPA Government did not pay heed to our suggestions and still continuing its fight against terror in a disoriented and casual manner.

According to certain international reports, when it comes to terrorism, India is one of the worst affected countries. The US State Department annual report on terror for year 2007 says, “India continued to rank among the world’s most terror-afflicted countries.” Terrorists took more than 2,300 lives in 2007 alone.

This US report has successfully identified the reasons of UPA Government’s failure in containing the terrorist activities in the country. It further says, “The Indian government's counterterrorism efforts remained hampered by outdated and overburdened law enforcement and legal systems. The Indian court system was slow, laborious, and prone to corruption; terrorism trials can take years to complete.”

Even the countries less exposed to terror activities have come up or coming up with stringent laws to deal with this deadly evil and trying to strike out even the remotest possibilities of terrorist attacks. On the contrary, the Government of the worst terror afflicted country instead of making stringent anti terror laws repealed POTA, the only anti-terror law in India.

Recently certain experts have pointed out a conspicuous pattern in serial blasts and claimed that the terrorists have made the BJP ruled States its prime target. I assure the people of the country that by targeting BJP ruled States the terrorists will not succeed in their efforts of intimidating BJP to dilute its war against terrorism. Instead of deviating BJP from its path these blasts have further strengthened our conviction and resolve to crush this deadly evil.

If the Central Government had approved the anti-terror laws adopted by the State Assemblies of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh then the serial blasts of Jaipur, Bangalore and Ahmedabad could have been investigated quickly and the culprits would have been brought to justice. The UPA Government has been holding back its approval on these anti-terror laws for more than two years or so.

Recently the UPA Government has been crowing that India needs a Federal Investigation Agency to deal with terrorism. BJP believes such an agency would be ineffective unless it is given strong teeth and claws. The idea of Federal Agency without a stringent anti-terror law is like sending an army to fight a battle without its weapons.

BJP would support the idea of a Federal agency in India only if it was well equipped with anti-terror laws because we would not like our security forces to fight a war against terror with their hands tied.

I have underlined on many occasions the direct or indirect link of the ISI in most of the terrorist attacks and blasts in India. Now the US has shown Pakistan a proof of ISI’s deepening ties with the terrorist organizations. Taking a cue from it the UPA Government should use its diplomatic channels to pursue the international community to put the ISI on the International Watch.

Pakistan’s aggression on LOC

The BJP takes a serious note of sudden surge in incidents of ceasefire violations at the LOC in Jammu and Kashmir. We lost a soldier in these skirmishes on the LOC. It seems Pakistan is trying to provide covering fire to infiltrating terrorists from Pakistan into India. There have been 19 such violations in the year 2008 alone and these violations should be seen in the backdrop of recent increase in terrorist incidents in several parts of the country.

During the regime of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee led NDA Government India had used diplomatic skills and asked Pakistan to announce ceasefire with a commitment to stop all anti-India activities from its soil. But now after four years the BJP is apprehensive over Pakistan’s intentions and UPA Government’s diplomatic skills to insure peace and stability in the region. If Pakistan is serious on taking the ongoing peace process forward then why are we witnessing current spate of repeated cease-fire violations and increasing infiltration?The Union Government should not ignore these warning signals emanating from Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP demands the Government to step up security and vigilance in the areas bordering Pakistan.

UPA practicing cultural terrorism

On the one hand the UPA Government is allowing terrorism to thrive in the country. On the other hand it is also presenting a new dimension of terrorism which could be termed as ‘cultural terrorism’, by targeting the cultural beliefs and icons of the majority of Indians.
The case of Ram Sethu is one such classic example where the Government has not only hurt the religious sentiments but also denied the very existence of Lord Rama.

BJP strongly condemns such ludicrous submissions made by the UPA Government in the Court and blames the Government for playing with the religious sentiments of more than a billion people in the world.

The Director General Coast Guards, Vice-Chief Admiral Shri R F Contractor had warned that dredging a channel through Ram Sethu would create a grave security concern for India. His warnings had further strengthened the case against the SSCP as the Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta had already expressed security concerns on the construction of Ram Sethu.

Ram Sethu not only works as a strategic buffer between India and Sri Lanka but also serves as a source of livelihood for millions of fishermen in Tamil Nadu.

Despite these undeniable facts the Government is adamant on sacrificing Ram Sethu ignoring various sensitive issues of security and sanctity.

BJP firmly believes that the Ram Sethu should be protected at any cost. When the BJP will come to power at the Centre we will review the SSCP.