The Hindu : Front Page : Ghauri test escalating arms race: Patil

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 31, 2004

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Ghauri test escalating arms race: Patil

BANGALORE, MAY 30. The Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil said today that the testing of nuclear-capable ``Ghauri'' missile by Pakistan was ``escalating the arms race."

``It [Ghauri test] is escalating the arms race,'' Mr. Patil told reporters here in reply to a question.

``If they [Pakistan] are doing it [missile test], well India will have to take note of it,'' Mr. Patil said.

He said the Government had taken note of the missile test and added ``we can't be concerned on every issue."

``Our policy is to strengthen our country... We have to take note of it and have to do what we should do,'' Mr. Patil said.

The Minister was on a two-day private visit here. He visited Sri Sathya Sai Baba at his Whitefield ashram here.

Answering a question, Mr. Patil said the Government had not changed the policy on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and that the ban on the organisation would continue.

``Our stand is already there, what is there will remain,'' Mr. Patil said.

``It is Vaiko's view,'' he said, when asked about the remarks of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader, on Saturday that there was no need for the ban on the LTTE in the present circumstances. Mr. Vaiko was clarifying that he had not made any demand for lifting the ban on the LTTE.

Asked whether the Government would consider reviewing the ban, Mr. Patil said ``we will decide whether we will continue or discontinue...it [ban] is there now. We have not changed our policy towards them [LTTE]."

He said the UPA Government would strengthen laws if necessary.

No time-frame for repeal of POTA

On the Prevention of Terrorism Act, he said the UPA's Common Minimum Programme had not set a time-frame for its repeal and added, in response to a query, that ``if POTA is repealed, it cannot remain in existence in Jammu and Kashmir."

Asked about the message India is sending to the world by repealing POTA, he said: ``The international community understands that we are against terrorist activities because we have suffered. Because of our internal compulsions, if some modifications are to be done, it will be done.''

``The international community would understand our stand," he said.

On the recent spate of terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir after the UPA Government took charge, Mr. Patil said the Centre would not be bogged down by the terrorist attacks and would fight them.

``You think the Government will be afraid of these type of actions?'' he asked.

PTI

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