Kishanganj (Bihar), April 22
Reaching out to the Muslim community, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today lamented the communal, riots in Gujarat that left hundreds of people dead and many more affected and urged the people to take a resolve not to allow repeat of such incidents.“Jo Gujarat mein hua nahin hona chahiye tha. Aiye hum faisla karein ki kabhi doosra Gujarat nahin hoga. Hinduon aur Musalmanon ko ek doosre ko shak ki nigah se nahin dekhna chahiye, (What happened in Gujarat should not have happened. Let us resolve not to allow another Gujarat to happen anywhere else. The Hindus and Muslims should not see each other with mistrust),’’ Mr Vajpayee said in an impassioned speech at an election meeting here to canvass for the lone Muslim member of his Cabinet, Syed Shahnawaz Hussain.
Mr Vajpayee, however, claimed that the number of communal riots had come down drastically during the six years of the NDA rule.
Referring to easing of tensions between India and Pakistan, he said: “If we can walk the path of peace with our estranged neighbour, why cannot we settle our problems peacefully within our own country. Removing mistrust between the two communities is most important”.
Without naming any party, the Prime Minister said some elements accused the BJP of being communal.
“My government has never discriminated against anybody on communal lines. We have treated everybody equally. We want everybody to feel safe and secure.’’
Asserting that India had tenaciously pursued a policy of peace with Pakistan, Mr Vajpayee said: “If it were not, so I would not have gone to Lahore by bus”.
We (India and Pakistan) could have succeeded, but some generals of the former Prime Minister of Pakistan (Nawaz Sharif) did not support him and Kargil happened. We were betrayed and responded suitably to the challenge but were not disheartened and invited Pervez Musharraf to Agra. The talks in Agra broke down too, but we have still not lost hope.’’
The Prime Minister said during his visit to Islamabad a few months ago, he had tried to impress upon President Musharraf the futility of a conflict and the need for normalisation of relations.
— PTI
