BJP for joint action

The BJP today suggested a joint Indo-Pak action against terrorist groups operating from Pakistan. This, according to the party, will be mutually beneficial for the two countries as both were facing the same problem.

A public rally was organised here today to mark the birth anniversary of Pandit Prem Nath Dogra, a great nationalist from Jammu who launched a movement for a total integration of the state with the Indian union in early fifties. Addressing the rally, BJP president Rajnath Singh said a joint action would be a step towards greater cooperation between the two countries towards fighting terrorism, besides building up greater confidence between the two. He pointed out it was Pakistan which had suggested a joint mechanism to fight terror in the subcontinent.

He asserted Pakistan continued to be the fountainhead of terror and now it was facing the brunt itself as well. It was high time India reminded Pakistan of its commitment made by Pakistan President Pervez Musharaf that it would ensure that all terrorist training camps in that country were closed down.

The BJP president observed that there was too much of uncertainty both at the Centre as well as in the state. “Both the J-K and Central governments were on ventilators and nobody knows how long these would survive”, he remarked.

Referring to Left stand on the Indo-Pak nuclear deal, Rajnath Singh alleged that the Communists were not sincere in their stand and opposition to the nuclear deal. “Otherwise, why should they not support our demand for a joint parliamentary committee on the issue and debating the outcome in Parliament?” he said. About the stand-off between the Congress and the People’s Democratic Party in the state, he said, both parties must clarify their stand to the people whom they were accountable for.

The BJP president reiterated his party’s opposition to “self-rule, greater autonomy and demilitarisation”, saying that none of them was in the national interest. Rather, he asked, “What is self-rule or pre-1952 status?” This would have great financial implications for the state as it got 90 per cent aid as grant and only 10 per cent as loan, while most other states got only 30 per cent grant and 70 per cent as loan.

Prominent among those present at the rally included former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shanta Kumar, former union minister of state for defence Chaman Lal Gupta and the state party president Ashok Khajuria.