M A I N   N E W S

Centre won’t be mute spectator
Advani lashes out at Basu for violence 

BHUJ (Gujarat), Sept 26 (PTI, UNI) —Home Minister L.K. Advani has said the Centre will not remain a “mute spectator” to the happenings in West Bengal and will take “appropriate steps” to deal with the situation.

Lashing out at the Jyoti Basu government for the violent incidents in the state, he told reporters here last night that there was clear evidence that the ruling party in the state had incited violence after it had suffered a setback in elections to the local bodies.

Asked what steps the Centre was considering against the Left Front government, Mr Advani said, “Whatever steps are deemed appropriate will be taken.”

The Home Minister, after a visit to border areas of Kutch, said the Centre was concerned over the situation in the Marxist-ruled state. “One can understand violence but political violence cannot be tolerated,” he remarked.

The Ruling National Democratic Alliance which had expressed concern while reviewing the situation in West Bengal on Saturday, had authorised the Centre to take appropriate steps.

Mr Advani said the government would take tough measures to strengthen border security after receiving reports of the four committees set up for the purpose.

He said the Centre had received the report of the committee chaired by former Home Secretary Godbole and the other three were expected by this week-end.

These committees were set up after the recent Chief Ministers conference convened for discussing nation’s security as also to stop smuggling of arms and narcotics.

On the Indo-Pakistan relations, he said there was no question of talks with Pakistan till it stopped aiding and abetting cross-border terrorism adding that this had also been understood by the international community.

He said even though India was keen on having talks with Pakistan to resolve bilateral issues and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee undertook the bus journey to Lahore, Pakistan started the Kargil conflict.

Outlining the steps taken to secure the borders with Pakistan, he said fencing along the border in Punjab and Rajasthan was almost complete while it had been decided to fence even the border along Jammu and Kashmir.