The Hindu : National : Rights will be respected: Kalam

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Saturday, Feb 24, 2007
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National

National

Rights will be respected: Kalam

Special Correspondent

Centre firm on dealing with terrorism

NEW DELHI: President Abdul Kalam noted on Friday the "challenge posed by terrorism and extremism" as well as the Government's determination to deal firmly with the challenge.

In his traditional address to a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament at the beginning of the budget session, the President indirectly acknowledged the failure to prevent terrorist strikes: "While our security and intelligence agencies have successfully foiled many attempts by terrorist groups to strike terror, there have been tragic, dastardly and cowardly acts of terrorism, as in Mumbai and Assam and, most recently in the attack on Samjhauta Express."

At the same time, the President reaffirmed the United Progressive Alliance regime's desire to continue with the "healing touch" policy in Jammu and Kashmir as well as in the North-East; and, more importantly , he put on record that "my Government attaches the highest importance to ensuring that all agencies respect basic human rights, even in the most trying circumstances."

On the foreign policy, the President re-stated the "enlightened national interest" formulation as the guiding principle in dealing with the external world.

Mr. Kalam reminded Pakistan of its commitment not to "permit any territory under its control to be used to support terrorism in any manner."

On relationship with the U.S., he said "members are aware of our efforts to arrive at an agreement with the U.S. on civil nuclear energy cooperation within the parameters of the July 18, 2005 India-U.S. Joint Statement and the March 2, 2006 Separation Plan."

The President sprang a pleasant surprise by choosing to speak for a few minutes in Hindi.

He delighted the members by formulating his ideas of "righteousness" and ended up by suggesting that righteousness leads to harmony in the home, and this in turn, creates order in the nation, and ultimately peace in the world.

* * *

CPI (M) objects to translation on secularism

NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) objected to a Hindi translation in the President's address to the joint session of Parliament on Friday in which secularism was described as "Panthnirpekshata" and demanded that the Government correct it straightaway.

Describing it as ``serious,'' party Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury said the Hindi equivalent used in the translation of the speech flowed from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ideal that Hinduism was the only religion and the rest were all "panths'' (sects).

"It is a pernicious communal philosophy, highly objectionable and condemnable,'' he said at a briefing after a coordination meeting of the four Left parties on the opening day of the Budget session.

Mr. Yechury said such language started during the previous National Democratic Alliance regime and was continuing during the current United Progressive Alliance Government. He felt it showed a "particular bias.''

Inflation

CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta disputed the Government's claim that inflation was a result of greater liquidity in the market due to high economic growth. He termed the analysis faulty and said it had no relation to what was happening on the ground.

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