Gill flays govt’s steps against terrorism; favours tough laws

He also slammed a section of politicians for “mixing religion and terrorism”.

He claimed that the aim of terrorists was to destroy the country’s secular fabric and unfortunately some leaders were falling into the trap.

“The fact is instead of investing our resources on right areas like CCTV cameras,taking support of the people,creating awareness against terrorism and taking preventive measures,we are wasting our money on NSG and NIA,” Gill said at a press interaction along with All India Anti-Terrorist Front Chairman M S Bitta.

“What is the use of having so many bases of NSG? NSG and NIA cannot stop terrorism but bringing tough laws can. Every country of this world affected by terrorism has enacted tough laws to combat this menace. What have we done? We had TADA and POTA but today they cease to exist,” he said.

Pointing out that the government says that it will fight terrorism with ordinary laws,he said he wanted to ask them when they have not been able to stop ordinary crimes with these laws,how will they fight terrorism?

He also found fault with the remarks made by senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Digvijay Singh on terrorism.

On Singh’s reported remarks linking the 13/7 attack to RSS,he said,”How can you blame any organisation be it RSS or any other outfit so soon for being responsible the Mumbai attack. Investigations have just begun and we should wait for the final report before jumping to any conclusion.”

Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi for his statement that 99 per cent of terrorist attacks had been prevented in the country,Gill said,”If you have really prevented 99 per cent attacks then show us the proof. But please don’t mislead the people by just talking in the air.”

“Only when you have arrested the terrorists and produced them before the courts,you can make such claims. You cannot say you prevented attack during Commonwealth Games and the IPL… This is not how it works,” he said.

Gill said until and unless one knows terrorists’ aim,one cannot defeat them.

He said the terrorists’ aim is to destroy the secular fabric of India by dividing it on religious lines and “unfortunately our politicians are falling into their trap by mixing terrorism with religion”.

He said people are being misled by the “propaganda” that in order to defeat terrorism,one has to go to the root cause of the problem and these intellectuals have two justifications for the killing of innocents.

“First,it is happening because of Gujarat riots and second,the deteriorating conditions of Muslims in India are responsible for the spread of terrorism. I want to ask them how can you justify the killing of innocents?” Gill said.

Similar ‘root cause theory’ was also spread in Punjab but it did not work there because the people of Punjab were against terrorism and they had learnt their lessons,he said.

Echoing the former Punjab DGP,Bitta said,”There has to be a political will to fight terrorism.”

“Politics is being played over the dead bodies of innocent people. Until and unless the terrorists are taken to their logical conclusion,terrorism won’t stop. Why are Khalistan militant Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar,Afzal Guru and Kasab still alive?” Bitta said.