12-01-2008, 02:02 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Govt shies away from blaming Pak</b>
Pioneer.com
PNS | New Delhi
The Government on Sunday developed cold feet in taking on Pakistan for the worst-ever terror strike on the country by refusing to link Islamabad with the Mumbai attack.
An all-party resolution on terrorism talked about plugging the loopholes in internal security and intelligence gathering but remained silent on Pakistanâs involvement. The BJP and Left, as well as the National Conference, called for a tough stand against Pakistan at the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
While the BJP pressed for naming Pakistan in the resolution, the Left wanted the Government to built international pressure on Islamabad by producing the evidence against it before the United Nations Security Council. NC leader Farooq Abdullah wanted a âtit-for-tatâ policy towards Pakistan, but found little support from the UPA allies.
The UPA Governmentâs refusal to link Pakistan with the terror attacks is baffling because External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has already gone on record blaming âelementsâ within Pakistan for the Mumbai attack and even the Prime Minister conveyed similar views to his Pakistan counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani. Pakistan on Saturday snubbed Manmohan Singh by going back on its commitment to send the ISI chief to receive evidence about that countryâs involvement in the terror attack.
The meeting failed to reach any consensus on a tough anti-terror law, with the BJP sticking to its demand for revival of POTA and the Government ready to only strengthen the existing legal framework to deal with terrorism.
Consensus also eluded the Government's move to set up a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to deal with terror investigations.
After a five-hour-long discussion, the Prime Minister said the nation stood united to fight terrorism and legal framework would be strengthened in this regard. "We will pursue the setting up of a Federal Investigating Agency within a time-frame," he said in his concluding remarks, promising the parties that the Government would get back to them within a fortnight.
When the BJP and AIADMK insisted on stringent laws like POTA to tackle terrorism, new Home Minister P Chidambaram said the Prime Minister had already referred to strengthening the legal framework. The Left parties opposed any "draconian" measures like POTA but were open to suggestions for strengthening provisions in the existing laws to combat terror.
The Government also came under attack from ally Samajwadi Party, whose chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said the ruling dispensation was weak and must own up responsibility. "Come out with something concrete within 15 days," Yadav told the Government.
In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister said the Government had decided to strengthen air and maritime security and create four NSG hubs in various parts of the country. Strengthening and augmentation of special counter-terrorism forces like the NSG would be done expeditiously and a legal framework would be formulated, he said. Sharing the country's "anger and outrage" over the Mumbai attacks, he appealed to the parties to rise above political considerations to meet the challenge unitedly.
Briefing newspersons after the meeting, Mukherjee said political parties unequivocally condemned the dastardly terrorist attack and expressed heartfelt sorrow and condolences to the innocent victims and paid homage to the brave security forces.
On the various measures to be taken by the Government, he said the scourge of terrorism would be fought with total determination and all means and measures to fight this menace would be made available.
Intelligence agencies would be tasked to provide specific pinpointed and actionable intelligence and creation of a new mechanism for establishing greater coordination among agencies of the Centre and states.
CPI leader AB Bardhan cautioned the Government against any "military misadventure" against Pakistan. The parties felt that the Government in Islamabad was weak but Indian action should not lead to strengthening of fundamentalist forces like the Taliban.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad made a veiled attack on the BJP for targeting ATS chief Hemant Karkare, who was killed while fighting terrorists, in connection with the Malegaon blast investigation.<b> In its turn, the BJP blamed the UPA's obsession with "Hindu terrorism" as one of the reasons for the ATS' failure to prevent the Mumbai attack</b>.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
These Commies are just SOB. Why Paki miss their homes? If Paki wants there home address or telephone, check local phone directory.
Pioneer.com
PNS | New Delhi
The Government on Sunday developed cold feet in taking on Pakistan for the worst-ever terror strike on the country by refusing to link Islamabad with the Mumbai attack.
An all-party resolution on terrorism talked about plugging the loopholes in internal security and intelligence gathering but remained silent on Pakistanâs involvement. The BJP and Left, as well as the National Conference, called for a tough stand against Pakistan at the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
While the BJP pressed for naming Pakistan in the resolution, the Left wanted the Government to built international pressure on Islamabad by producing the evidence against it before the United Nations Security Council. NC leader Farooq Abdullah wanted a âtit-for-tatâ policy towards Pakistan, but found little support from the UPA allies.
The UPA Governmentâs refusal to link Pakistan with the terror attacks is baffling because External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has already gone on record blaming âelementsâ within Pakistan for the Mumbai attack and even the Prime Minister conveyed similar views to his Pakistan counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani. Pakistan on Saturday snubbed Manmohan Singh by going back on its commitment to send the ISI chief to receive evidence about that countryâs involvement in the terror attack.
The meeting failed to reach any consensus on a tough anti-terror law, with the BJP sticking to its demand for revival of POTA and the Government ready to only strengthen the existing legal framework to deal with terrorism.
Consensus also eluded the Government's move to set up a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to deal with terror investigations.
After a five-hour-long discussion, the Prime Minister said the nation stood united to fight terrorism and legal framework would be strengthened in this regard. "We will pursue the setting up of a Federal Investigating Agency within a time-frame," he said in his concluding remarks, promising the parties that the Government would get back to them within a fortnight.
When the BJP and AIADMK insisted on stringent laws like POTA to tackle terrorism, new Home Minister P Chidambaram said the Prime Minister had already referred to strengthening the legal framework. The Left parties opposed any "draconian" measures like POTA but were open to suggestions for strengthening provisions in the existing laws to combat terror.
The Government also came under attack from ally Samajwadi Party, whose chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said the ruling dispensation was weak and must own up responsibility. "Come out with something concrete within 15 days," Yadav told the Government.
In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister said the Government had decided to strengthen air and maritime security and create four NSG hubs in various parts of the country. Strengthening and augmentation of special counter-terrorism forces like the NSG would be done expeditiously and a legal framework would be formulated, he said. Sharing the country's "anger and outrage" over the Mumbai attacks, he appealed to the parties to rise above political considerations to meet the challenge unitedly.
Briefing newspersons after the meeting, Mukherjee said political parties unequivocally condemned the dastardly terrorist attack and expressed heartfelt sorrow and condolences to the innocent victims and paid homage to the brave security forces.
On the various measures to be taken by the Government, he said the scourge of terrorism would be fought with total determination and all means and measures to fight this menace would be made available.
Intelligence agencies would be tasked to provide specific pinpointed and actionable intelligence and creation of a new mechanism for establishing greater coordination among agencies of the Centre and states.
CPI leader AB Bardhan cautioned the Government against any "military misadventure" against Pakistan. The parties felt that the Government in Islamabad was weak but Indian action should not lead to strengthening of fundamentalist forces like the Taliban.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad made a veiled attack on the BJP for targeting ATS chief Hemant Karkare, who was killed while fighting terrorists, in connection with the Malegaon blast investigation.<b> In its turn, the BJP blamed the UPA's obsession with "Hindu terrorism" as one of the reasons for the ATS' failure to prevent the Mumbai attack</b>.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
These Commies are just SOB. Why Paki miss their homes? If Paki wants there home address or telephone, check local phone directory.