April 28, 2007
Government Denies Taking Soft Approach Towards Terror
New Delhi
The government Saturday denied it had a soft approach towards
terrorism and that it adopted a middle path by bringing together all
the sections in dialogue to deal with militancy in Jammu and Kashmir
and the northeast.
Replying to a discussion on demands for grants for the home affairs,
Home Minister Shivraj Patil said the government's approach has been
proved a success and the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir has
improved a lot.
Patil said the government was contemplating constitutional
amendments to arm it with powers to send forces to troubled spots in
states, but said a decision on such an amendment would be
consensual.
Terming the issue "too delicate", Patil said the government would
evolve a consensus on it. "No unilateral action will be taken by the
government in this regard... It will be done only with consensus,"
he said.
Patil said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's
policies have been able to bring in a "healthy and secure
environment" in the trouble-torn regions. According to him, the
round table conferences to bring peace in Kashmir have succeeded in
bringing together different sections.
Explaining the steps taken by the government to tackle the Maoist
rebellion in some states, Patil said the government has adopted a
"balanced human approach." He said the central government had
strengthened the force and upgraded their weaponry in Maoist
rebellion-hit states. "It will take a little more time to show the
results," he assured the Lok Sabha.
Earlier, the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised
the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-led government accusing it of
making the country a "soft state", but the ruling party MPs attacked
the opposition for "the communal politics" it has played.
In a lacklustre debate, initiated by Shahnawaz Hussain, the BJP
reiterated its apprehensions over the repealing of draconian
Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), the Congress and the Left
unleashed an attack on the BJP, citing the staged shootouts in
Gujarat and its anti-minority stance.
Congress's Madhusudan Mistry, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)'s
Mohammed Salim and Samajwadi Party's Ramjilal Suman were among those
who took part in the discussions.
Putting demands for grants for various ministries, the Lok Sabha
Saturday passed Rs.235.9 trillion relating to various ministries by
voice vote.
The finance bill will be put on voting May 3. It will be taken up by
the Rajya Sabha May 5.
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