The Hindu : National : Advani appeals for tough stand on terrorism

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Wednesday, Dec 31, 2008
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Advani appeals for tough stand on terrorism

Kanwar Yogendra

SHIMLA: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani has once again warned and appealed to all political parties to shun the politics of vote bank and take a tough and united stand on terrorism. While addressing a mammoth rally on Tuesday on the completion of one year of BJP government in Himachal Pradesh, he said no compromise on terrorism would be tolerated and the terrorists should dread a strong government with powerful legislations instead of them terrorising a weak government.

The BJP and NDA’s Prime Ministerial candidate also urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to clearly state that how his government intends to deal with Pakistan in the last few months of its tenure. He blamed the Congress-led UPA government for first repealing POTA with a perverse pride and then taking a U-turn on the need for a strong anti-terror law. He said despite the U.N. giving a sanction and support for making a stringent anti-terror law, the Congress opposed the enactment of POTA but the BJP supported the UPA government in the passing of two important anti-terror Bills.

While mocking at the Congress, Mr. Advani also said “even though the UPA has done a U-turn on the issue of anti terror law, it has stuck to its policy of ‘No turn’ on the politics of vote bank.” The ideological differences should be kept aside for the sake of the nation and its security, he added.

Launching his party’s campaign for the coming Lok Sabha elections in the hill State, Mr. Advani said it should be called a “Vijay Sankalp Rally.” He said signals of BJP victory at Centre have been given by the voters of Jammu and Kashmir.

He congratulated the people of Jammu and Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti for fighting for a nationalist cause and voting for BJP there. He warned the stereotyped mindset on Jammu and Kashmir and said it was not only the Valley but also Jammu and Ladakh which mattered in its existence.

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