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Javadekar criticises NSA’s statement

Meena Menon

MUMBAI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Prakash Javadekar on Monday condemned the statement of National Security Adviser (NSA) M.K. Narayanan on Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed.

He described as a disaster Mr. Narayanan’s reported statement that the lack of action on Saeed was not a litmus test of Pakistan’s willingness to punish the guilty.

“We are giving more concessions to Pakistan and this is increasing our security threat,” Mr. Javadekar told reporters here. The UPA government was faltering once again and after the diplomatic blunder at Sharm el-Sheikh, it was backtracking on the issue of Saeed, who allegedly masterminded the November 26 terror strikes in Mumbai.

Mr. Javadekar admitted the government was succumbing to U.S. pressure, when it should be standing up for its own security. After the Kargil war, the U.S. did try to bring pressure on Atal Bihari Vajpayee, but he did not relent, the spokesman said.

“The government must demand action against Saeed and decide not to hold talks with Pakistan till then,” Mr. Javadekar said, adding that there had been no action on terror camps too so far. “We are not war-mongering but we can’t compromise on basic security considerations.”

He alleged that Saeed was allowed to go scot-free because of his links with the Inter-Services Intelligence.

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