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Cong accuses govt of lack of consensus on terrorism
New Delhi, Nov 29: Accusing the government of not having a consensus on the issue of cross-border terrorism, the Congress in the Lok Sabha demanded that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee clarify the official government position on it.
Fernandes had reportedly said the mobilisation exerted military pressure on Pakistan and forced the Pakistani President to denounce support to `jehad` through his speeches of January 12 and May 27.
"Some of the terrorist organisations in Pakistan were banned, some terrorist camps in PoK were closed, their accounts frozen and leaders arrested. The infiltration this year has come down considerably compared to the figures of the corresponding period of the previous year," Fernandes was quoted as saying.
Dasmunsi contended that the External Affairs Ministry was giving a different version, saying Pakistan has done nothing to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure operating from its soil.
MEA officials maintained that after an initial dip, infiltration levels had shot up and even increased to the corresponding levels of last year, Dasmunsi quoted from a newspaper report.
MEA figures showed after Musharraf`s May 27 declaration of ending infiltration, there had been an increase in the infiltration level. There were 1,624 incidents after May 27 as compared to 1,403 in the six-month period before that. Dasmunsi said the differing views had created confusion among the people and was only helping the Pakistan President.
"Government cannot keep quiet on this issue," he said demanding that the Prime Minister come to the House and clarify the situation.
As the Congress member persisted with his demands, Speaker Manohar Joshi requested Law Minister K Jana Krishnamurthy, who was present in the House, to bring the matter to the notice of the Prime Minister. Bureau Report