CCS meets, BJP leaders see J-K link

Those present at the meeting chaired by Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee included Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman K.C. Pant, National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra, Cabinet Secretary Kamal Pande and Defence Secretary Subir Dutta.

Sources disclosed that the sense of alarm at the Centre was linked to last year’s Gujarat violence on the one hand and the recent killing of Majid Dar and Nadimarg massacre in J-K on the other. BJP leaders were inclined to believe that the three incidents — Pandya’s murder, Nadimarg massacre and Dar’s killing — were enough indications that the ISI has stepped up its activities in the country. Pandya’s assassination, in their view, was aimed at disrupting communal peace in Gujarat to keep the state on the boil.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Advani said he had asked intelligence agencies to assist in the investigation into Pandya’s assassination. The Deputy PM, who is scheduled to attend the BJP leader’s funeral at Ahmedabad tomorrow, said: ‘‘The Gujarat Police is investigating. Intelligence agencies have also been asked to assist in the investigation.’’

Vajpayee also spoke to Gujarat CM Narendra Modi immediately after the news of the attack on Pandya poured in. In a condolence message to the bereaved family, the PM said it was unfortunate that a young and promising career had been cut short by such a dastardly act of violence. BJP president M. Venkaiah Naidu said: ‘‘It’s not an ordinary incident. You have to see it in the context of recent happenings in Gujarat. All angles have to be probed.’’