New Delhi, August 15
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today made a diplomatic move by not spewing venom against Pakistan in his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of Red Fort, though he minced no words in criticising Islamabad’s double-standards of terrorism and declaring that "we will defeat the forces of terrorism".

In a clear rebuff to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s reference to Jammu and Kashmir as "a core issue" in his Independence Day speech yesterday, Mr Vajpayee described Jammu and Kashmir as "an integral part" of India and "a symbol of Indian secularism".

While the Prime Minister chose not to stoop to the level of General Musharraf’s rhetoric he handed an apt response to the military dictator when he declared that nobody will be allowed to disrupt the Jammu and Kashmir elections which will be free and fair.

Mr Vajpayee also made it clear that terrorist incidents like Kaluchak and attacks on Amarnath yatris could not, by any logic, be a part of any freedom struggle.

General Musharraf had yesterday said that Pakistan would continue to give moral, political and diplomatic support to what he called "the freedom struggle" going on in Jammu and Kashmir. This was clearly the military ruler’s way of telling New Delhi that Islamabad would do its utmost in sabotaging and disrupting the J&K poll.

The Prime Minister asserted: "Kashmir is not a piece of land, it is a test case of sarva dharma samabhava — secularism... India has always stood the test of a secular nation. Jammu and Kashmir is a living example of this. And this itself is Kashmiriyat."

Mr Vajpayee favoured good neighbourly relations with Pakistan but made it clear that no talks can take place with Pakistan until Islamabad created a conducive atmosphere for this, giving the most clear signal yet that he would not be meeting Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf when they visit New York next month to attend the United Nations’ General Assembly session.

"How can any meaningful dialogue take place in this atmosphere?" Mr Vajpayee said while accusing Pakistan of adopting “double standards” on terrorism. In this context, he pointed out that the cross-border infiltration was continuing.

At the same time, the Prime Minister seemed to be on a soft note when he admitted that some mistakes might have been committed by the government but he assured that the Centre would make amends. “If any mistakes have occurred, we shall make amends. For this we shall talk to the Kashmiri people’s representatives and organisations.”

Significantly, in this context, he said discussions will also take place on the demand for more powers to the state but only after the elections. He made a fresh offer of a dialogue with the elected representatives in the state on devolution of greater powers and to rectify mistakes of the past.

He said Jammu and Kashmir elections were an opportunity to create a new future in the state and urged the people and their representatives to contest the poll in large numbers to thwart the designs of those sitting across the border.

The Prime Minister made sure to mention that the displaced Kashmiri Pandits would get justice and said the government would take steps to facilitate their return to their homes in the “new situation” after the poll.

Without specifying, Mr Vajpayee said India was prepared to take “some more” steps in this direction but added that for this, it was necessary to create a conducive environment.

On the Gujarat situation, he said the horrific explosion of communal violence in the state was one unfortunate example of how casteism and communalism divided the people. “There can be no place for such violence in a civilised society. It is the responsibility of the Government and the society alike to provide security and equal opportunities for minorities”.

Mr Vajpayee appealed to the militant groups in the North-East to come to the negotiating table and join the mainstream, saying that peace efforts in Nagaland were moving towards success. “Our efforts for permanent peace in Nagaland are progressing towards success... Through weapons, you can snatch away lives but cannot improve them.”