There could be more Akshardhams round the corner. This was Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s chilling warning delivered here today. He spoke of intelligence inputs hinting at more terrorist attacks on religious shrines. ‘‘But don’t worry, we are fully prepared to meet any eventuality,’’ he was quick to add.Vajpayee, who was here to lay the foundation stone of the Rs 100-crore Mohan Shakti National Heritage Park, also expressed concern at the deteriorating fiscal condition of various states. The Centre, he said, was deliberating on a comprehensive economic package for Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal.‘‘Soon the Cabinet will decide on a special economic package for the backward districts, wherein new industry would be given excise waiver among other benefits,’’ he said.Getting back to the topic of terror, he said extremists have adopted new ways to strike at India.‘‘They want to create insecurity by weakening the social fabric of the nation,’’ the PM said.Terrorist attacks on Akshardham and Raghunath, he said, proved that they could go to any extent to harm the nation.‘‘If they (terrorists) think they can create a communal divide, they are mistaken, for our ties go back to centuries,’’ he said.Without naming Pakistan, he said the neighbouring country was jealous of India’s economic progress at a time of recession in the South Asian market. ‘‘Our neighbour can’t digest our progress and is resorting to vicious tricks,’’ he said.Vajpayee said the people know how to tackle divisive forces. The Amarnath pilgrims, he said, was a case in point. ‘‘Even though terrorist attacks were feared, they continued with their pilgrimage and refused to turn back. In fact, the threats only strengthened their resolve to complete the yatra.’’The PM, who later addressed reporters in Simla, accused the Congress of raking up the Godhra issue in Gujarat elections, even though the BJP manifesto makes no mention of it. He said the BJP was not in favour of making Godhra an election issue.On the release of terrorists by the J-K government, he said the state wants to create a congenial atmosphere. The Centre was of the view that a screening committee should be formed before releasing terrorists, he added.Speaking of the Simla agreement, he said Pakistan is not ready to discuss any issue other than Kashmir. India can only think of participating in the SAARC summit, to be held in Islamabad next year, only if Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism, he said.He denied that there were differences of opinion between the Defence Ministry and Armed Forces on the issue of infiltration. The PM also assured that no such step based on the Kelkar Committee on tax reforms that would hit the common man would be taken. He said the committee report was yet to be discussed but assured ‘‘no such step which will hit the common man will be taken’’.‘Cong raking up Godhra’- Promises special economic package for backward districts of HP and Uttaranchal - Accuses Congress of raking up Godhra issue- Says Centre wants screening committee before any decision is taken to release J-K terrorists- Rules out talks with Pakistan or visit to SAARC summit in Islamabad till terrorism ends- Assures no such step on the Kelkar Committee on tax reforms that will hit the common man
