NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad
The Bharatiya Janata Party has ruled out any dialogue with Pakistan unless it stops cross-border terrorism.
Stating that the time has come for a 'final settlement' of the problem of cross-border terrorism, BJP president Jana Krishnamurthy said, "The people of India expect the government to take all necessary measures to put an end to cross-border terrorism once and for all. They also want the country to put an end to terrorism in the countries from which it is originating."
"There can be no talks with Pakistan as long as it continues cross-border terrorism," Krishnamurthy said in response to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's appeal to India to come to the negotiating table for resolving all differences.
"Dialogue for what and on what subject," he asked at a media conference in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
"Musharraf's position in Pakistan is weak and he is unable to control anything. He is winking at cross-border terrorism. Musharraf's condemnation of terrorist acts has no meaning if cannot stop cross-border terrorism in India," he added.
The BJP chief said it was for the government to decide on the steps to be taken to put an end to the vexatious problem. "The country is united solidly behind the government, which is aware of expectations of people," he added.
"Which government would like to reveal its options at this stage," he retorted when asked to spell out the government's action.
"The government will take appropriate steps at appropriate time. When the terrorists attacked the United States, it took 45 days for the superpower to take action in Afghanistan. The situation is not static and it is changing every day," he said.
He, however, agreed that asking the Pakistani high commissioner to leave India, putting paramilitary forces under the army's command, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to Jammu and Kashmir and his consultations with the opposition parties were all part of preparations for suitable action by the government.
Asserting that the US could not afford to adopt double standards on the problem of terrorism, he expressed surprise that 'when the US came under attack, it sought global support for war against terror and attacked Afghanistan, but when precious lives are lost in India, it is advising us patience'.
Complete coverage of the Jammu attack
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
