Attack on Christians — Arrests likely soon, says PM

Vajpayee also ruled out immediate resumption of talks with Pakistan, rejected Opposition criticism against Constitution review as propaganda and parried demands for restoration of subsidies on fertilizers.

He asked Opposition parties to reconsider their stand on Constitution review maintaining that the Government’s decision had not violated the sanctity of Parliament. In his hour-long speech, Vajpayee rejected the charge of Opposition leader Sonia Gandhi that secularism was under assault from the Sangh Parivar and condemned the recent attacks on Christians promising stringent action against the guilty.

"Pakistan must create appropriate and conducive atmosphere for resumption of the dialogue process by stopping ISI-backed terrorist activities in the country, violation of the Line of Control (LoC) and hostile campaign against India," the Prime Minister said adding friendly relations with Islamabad could not be a one-way traffic.

He said, "We wanted to talk to Pakistan but the peace process initiated by India in Lahore was reciprocated by the Kargil incursins. We do not want to undertake such travels any more." After the PM’s reply, the motion was adopted by a voice vote with the House rejecting all Opposition amendments. The Left parties walked out protesting against the PM’s `failure’ to addresss the issue of price rise.

Describing US President Bill Clinton’s visit to India last month as "very useful", Vajpayee said Washington’s attitude towards the Kashmir issue had undergone a change and the visit had improved Indo-US relations in a `qualitative way’. He accused the Congress of practising `double speak’ on the issue of maintenance of minimum nuclear deterrence by making contradictory statements on the discussion Sonia Gandhi had with Clinton on the issue.

Asserting that India would not succumb to any pressure on signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), he said New Delhi would take a decision on it after reaching a national consensus. Vajpayee voiced concern over the grave drought situationin Rajasthan, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh and assured the members that the Centre was extending all possible assistance irrespective of the political colour of the state.

Regretting that the super-cyclone in Orissa was made a political issue, he urged Opposition parties to desist from politicising natural calamities. Earlier, in her speech, Sonia Gandhi attacked the Centre for not providing adequate help to Orissa after the cyclone because of an Opposition Government there. She appealed to the PM not to deal with the drought situation with a "cold political heart but with just a benevolent one". On Constitution review, the PM said the Government had no intention to tamper with its basic structure and hit back at the Congress quoting the party resolution in 1976 when it set up the Swaran Singh Committee for a thorough examination of the Constitution.

Vajpayee virtually ruled out a roll back of hike in fertilizer prices saying subsidies on them were only helping the industry more than the farmers. Seeking a consensus on the vital issue of subsidies to ensure that the poor benefitted the most, the PM charged the Congress with changing its stand on the subject. He also the economy had emerged strong due to the reforms policy of the Government and hoped that the country would soon attain a GDP growth rate of seven to eight per cent annually.