Mulayam hard talk: Pak should be taught a lesson

In the wake of revelations that last month8217;s terror strikes in Mumbai were orchestrated by Pakistani terrorists, Mulayam Singh Yadav, the leader of the UPA Government8217;s largest ally, the Samajwadi Party, has advocated 8220;teaching a lesson8221; to Pakistan as a preventive measure against future attacks.

In the wake of revelations that last month8217;s terror strikes in Mumbai were orchestrated by Pakistani terrorists, Mulayam Singh Yadav, the leader of the UPA Government8217;s largest ally, the Samajwadi Party, has advocated 8220;teaching a lesson8221; to Pakistan as a preventive measure against future attacks. Mulayam8217;s statement comes after he set a 15-day deadline for the UPA to take urgent steps to prevent such attacks during the all-party meeting called by the Government after the Mumbai attacks.

8220;Pakistan has been repeatedly creating problems for our country. Pakistan should be taught a lesson so that it dares not repeat this in future,8221; the SP chief and former defence minister told reporters on Wednesday after a meeting with PM Manmohan Singh about security issues in the country. With the Parliament session starting today, Mulayam8217;s statement also holds significance in view of the fact that two other major UPA allies, Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan, have maintained their silence on the Government8217;s strategy towards countering terrorism from across the border.

8220;We must take such strong actions against the perpetrators of the attack on the country that they dare not plan any terror attack in future,8221; added Mulayam, although he declined to reveal the exact measures discussed with the PM.

But SP general secretary Amar Singh, who accompanied Mulayam during his meeting with the PM, said that his party8217;s position on Pakistan8217;s role in terror attacks against India has always been clear. 8220;As the defence minister, our party chief has had a very clear policy that if there is a war, then that should not be on our side of territory but on the side of our enemies,8221; stated Amar Singh.

In response to a question about Mulayam8217;s 15-day deadline, which ends next week, the SP general secretary maintained that the Government was going in the 8220;right direction8221;.

As far as our 15-day deadline goes, we feel that the Government has progressed in the right direction. I think they are going to bring forth plans for setting up a federal agency and revamping the coastal security apparatus within the 15-day period itself,8221; Amar Singh said.

However, while the SP leadership has stood in support of the setting up of a federal agency to counter terrorism, it remains opposed to a POTA-like law.

Story continues below this ad

8220;We have opposed POTA in the past and we will continue to oppose similar laws in the future. However, I am confident that the Government will not bring out a POTA-like law,8221; said Mulayam.