Top meet to tackle J&K, cross-border militancy tomorrow

Advani was here to participate in a function organised by the BJP state unit to mark the golden jubilee of the liberation of erstwhile Hyderabad State from the clutches of Nizam and its merger in the Indian union on Sept 17, 1948.

While expressing satisfaction over the marked improvement in the Kashmir situation, the Home Minister accused Pakistan for inciting cross-border terrorism. “Local militancy has completely dried up and only a proxy war is sustained by foreign mercenaries,” he said.

Only six months into office, the Vajpayeegovernment had strived to bring normalcy back to the valley as well as Doda and Udhampur districts. “The valley is witnessing a flurry of tourists, Indian as well as foreign. Hotel rooms are booked till November,” he stated.

Referring to a newspaper report today quoting UK officials as saying that Pakistan had been fuelling terrorism in J&K, Advani said there was a growing realisation among western nations that Kashmir imbroglio was only a proxy war and not the right to self-determination.

“What is gratifying for the Indian government is that the militants apprehended or killed in Kashmir were mainly from Pakistan or Afghanistan and only few were from the valley,” he said. This ground reality called for a firm and bold action plan.

Advani disagreed with the view that the Vajpayee government mishandled the situation after the May nuclear tests bringing Kashmir on the international fora. “First some western countries as well as Communists within the country hurled epithets at us. But, later they weresilenced,” he said.

When it was pointed out that a statesman like Nelson Mandela had expressed concern over the situation in Kashmir, the Home Minister replied: “It is also fact that a statesman like Nelson Mandela expressed regrets within a day after making a statement. It has never happened.”

On dismissal of Bihar government, he said Central government was aware and a decision would be taken at a right time. Asked to quantify the situation in Bihar, he said: “We are getting reports on the situation.”

On Jayalalitha’s criticism against him for backtracking his earlier promise to take action against the Karunanidhi government in Tamil Nadu following the Coimbatore blasts, he denied having made any such remarks. “Others too were there (on the occasion) and they know the facts.”

When pressed on the differences between AIADMK and BJP on Karunanidhi government’s dismissal, he said that the Centre would take a Constitutionally correct and politically sound decision, irrespective of personal attackson BJP leaders.

However, he felt the coalition partners were getting used to the recent coalition culture. “We need to air our differences at appropriate internal fora,” he said. There was no move to formulate a code of conduct for coalition partners, he added.