BJP seeks strong global framework against terrorism

He appreciated British Prime Minister David Cameron’s bold statement during his visit to India last year that Pakistan promoted export of terror.

Cameron had said in Bangalore,”We cannot tolerate in any sense the idea that this country (Pakistan) is allowed to look both ways and is able to promote the export of terror,whether to India or Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world.”

Gadkari said BJP wanted good relations with Pakistan so that the two countries could live in peace and fight the problems of poverty and unemployment. “We want friendship with Pakistan but they are fighting a proxy war against us.”

“… we live in a very uncertain neighbourhood. Pakistan was using terror as a state policy. Terror groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) were offshoots of the ISI,” he said during his hour-long address.

He said there were very strong growing inter-linkages amongst terror groups,and India and Britain needed to accord the highest priority to defeating global terrorism and to making sure that the two countries cooperate fully with each other in winning this battle.

Gadkari sought strengthening of the global framework against terrorism,days after Mumbai was rocked by three blasts that claimed 19 lives.

Gadkari highlighted the need to deal “firmly with terrorism and naxalism”,saying terror has no colour.

He noted that the US had successfully prevented any terror attacks after the 9/11 strikes,but India had failed to do it. “There is a need to fight against terrorism and criminality.”

Gadkari said his party was against terrorism and “not against minorities.”

Referring to Afzal Guru,he regretted that government had failed to implement the Supreme Court order pronouncing death sentence to a person charged with the attack on Parliament,even after six years. He alleged that the Congress-led UPA government was steeped in corruption. “Our mission is to rid the country of corruption and maladministration,” he said,adding he was confident that BJP-led NDA would be voted back to power in the general election in 2014 and hinted that there was a possibility that the polls might be held much earlier.

He claimed that India was suffering because of “wrong economic policies and corruption.”

Gadkari outlined the progress made by the BJP-ruled states in the development of infrastructure,tourism and other sectors and invited the people of Indian origin to take advantage of the positive investment climate in these states.

He hailed the achievements of the influential Indian-origin community in the UK in various fields and referred to the problems being faced by them in visa and PIO-cards related matters. He assured them that he would take up these issues with the government of India.

He dwelt at length on the role his party was playing in exposing the rampant corruption back home and promised a government free from corruption at the Centre after the general elections scheduled for 2014 which,he claimed,the BJP-led NDA was sure to win.

Speaking on the occasion,former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje complimented the large community of the Indian origin people for the role they were playing in strengthening the British economy and sought their cooperation in the development back home.

She outlined the good work done for the non-resident Indians and the people of Indian origin in Rajasthan during her regime and promised to do more.

Others who spoke on the occasion included BJP leaders Vijay Jolly and Smriti Irani.