Opp slams UPA for ‘lopsided’ security policy

Quoting reports on the subject, he showed how the terror map clearly extended from Nepal to Karnataka and that the ministry had failed on every count. He said the government had failed to send tough signals. While the Prime Minister had sent strong messages following terror attacks, the Home Minister had called these insurgents ‘‘his brothers and sisters’’, he said.

He accused the government of not being clear on their stand on Pakistan following the Delhi blasts. Observing that ‘‘civilian economic life had ceded to terrorist and Naxalite outfits’’, Shourie said that Naxalites and terrorists ruled the land, collected taxes from government official and even the police forces took orders from the mafia.

He even suggested amending the Constitution that would enable the Centre to directly intervene in these situations. Drawing attention to home minister’s statement that terrorism would not be allowed to affect the peace process with Pakistan, shourie said ‘‘this was like giving a carte blanche to PAK’’ and asked whether government still stood by the Parliament resolution to re-acquire PoK.

If Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil found methodical approach highlighting the deteriorating internal security situation of Arun Shourie difficult, former bureaucrat P.C. Alexander questioned the very basis of Patil’s line on internal security.

He told the house that Patil had been covering up his inability to act by maintaining that ‘‘law and order’’ is a state subject. ‘‘Sometimes you have to think beyond Constitution,” he said. When Patil interjected asking ‘‘Do you want we act contrary to the Constitution’’ Alexander said ‘‘I want you to think’’.

Similarly, senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh cautioned the government on its Naxals policy. Pointing to Nepal he said India could be heading the Nepal way if action was not initiated immediately. He also said that proposed talks with banned ULFA could create problems for Bhutan.

BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra held the ruling party responsible for the rise of Naxalites by transacting deals with them during elections. ‘‘We impeach this government for destroying the country for vote bank politics,’’ Malhotra said pointing out that Patil had claimed there had been no prior information about the blasts. But he said reports of such threats had appeared in newspapers, the police in Chandni Chowk had mentioned such a danger and the US Embassy too had raised an alert.