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Journalism of Courage
CHENNAI, APRIL 6: Even as the BJP-AIADMK relations tottered following Jayalalitha’s decision to pull out her two ministers from the central Cabinet, the AIADMK supremo today lashed out at Union Home Minister LK Advani and Union Defence Minister George Fernandes for their alleged laxity in protecting the national security.
“The AIADMK cannot be silent at such wanton disregard of national security. Since the Vajpayee Government is proving that it cannot act firmly against anti-national elements, the AIADMK cannot long remain a silent spectator. It will have to take the initiative to rectify the situation before India becomes an Afghanistan or a Bosnia,” Jayalalitha said in a statement today.While she flayed Fernandes for allegedly preventing naval ships from intercepting the vessels of suspected terrorists in the Indian Ocean, she termed as “unpardonable” Advani’s “inattention to the developing security threat which has grave implications for the nation’s security.”
Stating that she would work towardsforming “structures that can defend Indian interests against terrorism,” Jayalalitha said the allegations of former naval chief Vishnu Bhagwat “cannot be casually treated”. The AIADMK would like to see India take the lead in forming an international alliance against terrorism, drug trafficking and religious extremism.
The 21st century will witness a holy war against religious extremism and terrorism, she said, adding, “it is unfortunate that thus far, important personalities in the Vajpayee Government have placed India on the wrong side, for considerations unknown.”
TAMIL NADU: For reasons unknown, Advani is ignoring clear information available to him about the intensification of terrorist activities in Tamil Nadu, she alleged. “We hope that the proximity of certain BJP office-bearers in Tamil Nadu to Chief Minister M Karunanidhi is not the reason for such negligence. Political consideration should not be allowed to impinge on national security,” she added.
On October 9, 1998, she had informedthe Home Minister and the Defence Minister that Osama bin Laden had infiltrated some of his operators into Tamil Nadu.
