The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Leaders condemn blasts

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Thursday, Jul 13, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Leaders condemn blasts

Our Tamil Nadu Bureau

Dastardly audacity of terrorists due to Centre's soft approach: Swamy

CHENNAI: The "dastardly audacity" of terrorists was due to the "soft approach" of the United Progressive Alliance government towards terrorists, Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy said on Wednesday.

Referring to the Mumbai blasts, Dr. Swamy, in a statement, accused the Centre of adopting a "deliberate policy" of negotiating with "unrepentant terrorists and killers or showing mercy to them."

He called the government "a confirmed failure" on all major dimensions of government policy — economy, national security and foreign affairs.

Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani described the blasts as an act of cowardice. If the terrorist gang had any issue to settle with the government then they should take it up directly with it, he said. Violence was not the solution for it.

He said there were many democratic ways to settle the disputes. If terrorists felt violence was the only answer, they were mistaken as such acts would only alienate them from people. He wanted people, irrespective of caste, community and political affiliation, to join to drive violence out.

The Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam demanded a probe into Tuesday's bomb blasts in Mumbai and Kashmir and arrest of "real culprits."

In a statement here on Wednesday, TMMK president M.H. Jawahirullah said police should nab only those behind the blasts and not "innocent people." Terming the blasts "inhuman and barbaric," he said thousands of party volunteers in the State were ready to donate blood to the injured. Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko, condemning the blasts, said the government should resolve to fight terrorism and take stern action against those behind the "dastardly act." He wanted the government to provide immediate relief to the affected.

Hindu Munnani president Rama Gopalan described the Mumbai blasts as a warning signal to the nation particularly Tamil Nadu.

He said the `coward terrorists' chose innocent civilians as their target and that the inhuman act was highly condemnable.

Mr. Gopalan said the State and Central Governments should view this matter seriously. Tuesday's serial blasts had clearly exposed that Muslim terrorist groups had established close links with local `anti social elements' in various leading cities in India.

A soft approach would pose great danger to the nation, he said. In Tamil Nadu, terrorist groups had chosen various economically cities including Tuticorin as their target. The government should take `preventive' measures against supporters of terrorist organisations, Mr. Gopalan said.

He said the special concession given by the State Government to the Coimbatore serial bomb blasts case accused A.N. Maudhani was unacceptable.

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