America just issues statements, where’s concrete action: George

In the Lok Sabha today, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee spoke of pratikar as soon as proceedings began this morning but government managers later clarified that he only meant that the government would take all possible measures to prevent such incidents.

Arguing against moves for an adjournment motion to discuss the issue, Vajpayee said that the Jammu incident was not something that needed to be raised on party lines. He offered to hold an all-party meeting to discuss the issue but the idea was dropped after it was decided that the House would hold a debate on Friday and adopt a resolution.

In Jammu, Defence Minister George Fernandes, after inspecting the scene of the attack and calling on the injured in hospital, was more vocal, saying ‘‘this kind of terror will not go unpunished.’’ Accusing Pakistan of involvement in terror attacks, Fernandes said, ‘‘first, they were targeting our armed forces and now they have started targeting their families. This proves that Pakistan is frustrated enough.’’

Speaking in Srinagar later, Fernandes said that the army was keen to mount an attack on Pakistan. He refused to spell out the response to the Jammu massacre. ‘‘Such details will only help the enemy.’’ ‘‘Wherever I went today, the jawans asked just one question: Hame kuch karne key liye kab chhoda jayega (when will we be allowed to do something),’’ Fernandes said.

In Jammu, Fernandes, who was accompanied by Farooq Abdullah, said, ‘‘whosoever is behind the attack will not go unpunished. Action will be taken at an appropriate time. We have to decide when and how we will react. War cannot be fought in anger.’’

Saying it was time for the global anti-terror coalition to end terrorism directed against India, Fernandes took potshots at the US for not doing enough. ‘‘America sirf statement jaari karta hai, kuchh thoss nahin karta (America only issues statements, does not do anything concrete).’’

Home Minister Advani, while touring Goa today, told reporters in Ponda that his ministry had convened a meeting in New Delhi tomorrow to formulate a response to deal with the situation. ‘‘The message the terrorists gave through yesterday’s strike was we, who are on the path of terrorism, have launched a jihad and care two hoots for your coalition against international terrorism.’’

Ruling out any dialogue with Pakistan unless cross-border terrrorism is stopped and 20 terrorists wanted by India are turned over, Advani said, ‘‘this is the touchstone that will determine what Pakistan has been telling the West and what it actually does.’’

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who also travelled to Jammu to meet the injured, described the Kaluchak incident as barbaric and said her party was always prepared to cooperate with the government in the fight against terror.

‘‘Mein ghayalon se mili. Jis ne bhee yeh kiya hai, veh insaaniyat ke dushman hain. Unpar sakht, thoss karvahee honi chayie’’ (I met the injured. Whoever has done this are enemies of humanity. They should be dealt with firmly),’’ Sonia said.