M A I N   N E W S

Gujarat riots a blot on NDA, admits Advani
Tribune News Service

Ghaziabad/New Delhi, March 8
Terming Gujarat riots in 2002 as a “blot” and an “aberration”, Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani today asserted that barring those “unfortunate” incidents, the six-year tenure of Vajpayee-led NDA government had been remarkable in ensuring security and development in the country.

“Gujarat riots were the only aberration... had Godhra not happened, the subsequent riots would not have taken place,” Mr Advani said, adding “the developments were unfortunate and all necessary steps were taken to correct the situation.”

“Before the BJP-led government came to power, the country had been witnessing riots. But during our government’s rule, the country has been by and large saved from riots,” he added.

He said the Vajpayee government had got mandate in 1998 on the plank of good governance and it had fulfilled its promise. The country had “seen so much development recently that there is a feel-good feeling everywhere and India is shining.”

He was addressing officers and jawans of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) here on its 35th Raising Day.

Reacting sharply to Mr Advani’s statement, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said “blaming” Hindus for “everything had become a fashion” in the country.

When contacted, VHP International General Secretary Pravin Togadia told The Tribune that “when one talks of Gujarat riots, he or she only blames Hindus.”

“There is a fashion in India to blame Hindus, who are victims, for everything,” Mr Togadia said.

“It is unfortunate that burning 49 Hindus alive on Godhra station is not a blot for Advaniji. The attack on Raghunath and Akshardham temples and the attacks on Amarnath pilgrims and Parliament, the temple of democracy, are not taken as dark spots,” he said.

Mr Advani said the government had made “sincere efforts” towards improving relations with Pakistan and putting an end to proxy war, which had led to creation of a “new atmosphere” not only in bilateral ties but also within the country.

The joint statement issued by Mr Vajpayee and Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad in January this year is “historic as Pakistani regime has promised to India and the world that it would not allow its territory or any part under its control to be used for terrorism,” Mr Advani said.

He said following that development, violence in Jammu and Kashmir had decreased, though it continued and even Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was targeted recently. “So there can be no lowering of guard.”

He also claimed “success” in improving the situation in the North-East and referred to the Centre’s talks with the Bodo Liberation Front and NSCN (I-M).

“We have demonstrated we are willing to hold talks with even gun-wielding people, provided they give up arms,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

In Assam too, he said, terrorist violence had decreased due to lack of public support to militants.

“In view of this lack of public support, the Assamese rebels shifted their base to Bhutan... but, Bhutan set an example of a good neighbour by destroying terrorist camps on their soil,” he said.

Advani shedding crocodile tears, says Muslim Board
Tribune News Service

“Had they been serious about taking action against those responsible for the riots, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi would have been removed a long ago. But he still remains a hero (for the BJP),” AIMPLB member Ahmed Ali Quasmi said here today.