New Delhi, Feb 17: President A P J Abdul Kalam in his first address to Parliament, today said judiciary should give an early verdict on the temple issue and castigated Islamabad for its continued support to terrorist groups in India.
With the tension on Indo-Bangla border drawing the nation`s attention, the president made it clear that the problem of illegal immigration from Bangladesh has assumed serious proportions and affected many states with reports of Bangladesh territory being used by insurgent groups operating in the North East.
"The ISI is also active in Bangladesh. This makes the issue of infiltration even more ominous. The government is determined to take all necessary steps to check this problem," Kalam told members of both the houses of Parliament at a joint sitting on the commencement of the budget session.
Seeing a "method in the madness" of Pakistan-supported terrorist violence, he said "We must continue to be vigilant against an adversary which is unwilling to give up its anti-India stand."
Unfolding the government`s agenda for the coming year, he took satisfaction in the performance of the economy in the past year and described the 10th five year plan as not merely a resources plan but a reforms plan.
With Ayodhya set to take centrestage during the session, the president said the government has repeatedly made it clear that the dispute could be resolved either through negotiations between the two communities or through a judicial verdict which has to be accepted by all concerned.
The President said while the judiciary should expedite its work and give an early verdict "it is also necessary for political parties, religious leaders and eminent social personalities to promote an atmosphere of mutual understanding, goodwill and accommodation".
Accusing Pakistan of consistently responding to India`s efforts for friendly relations with hatred and violence, sponsoring and actively supporting a sustained campaign of cross-border terrorism, Kalam said recent revelations had shown how every civilised diplomatic norm is being flouted by the use of its mission here to arrange financing for terrorist groups in the country.
Recalling that the government had to take measures against the diplomats concerned, he said the government had also reiterated that it would be willing to retain the level of its diplomatic representation by accepting replacements of the expelled officials.
"Our position remains unchanged that we are willing to resume bilateral dialogue with Pakistan as soon as cross-border terrorism ends," he said.
The President said continued incidents of cross-border terrorism last year again underscored that the chief threat to internal security was external.
The killings of innocent men, women and children; the choice of members of the families of security personnel as special targets; the attack on pilgrims -- all this showed that there was a method in the madness of Pakistan-supported terrorist violence.
However, he said the method did not succeed and the people maintain calm even in the face of provocative attacks on the Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar and Raghunath Temple in Jammu.
"The assurances given by Pakistan on the issue of cross-border terrorism have remained unfulfilled; the infrastructure of terrorist groups remains intact in Pakistan; the funding of terrorist groups continued," he said.
On national security, he said after the December 13 terrorist attack on Parliament the government was constrained to deploy troops along the international border which achieved the purpose "by showing both our firmness and our self restrained in dealing with our hostile neighbour."
In October the government decided to redeploy the armed forces from their positions without compromising on their capacity to respond decisively to any emergency and without lowering vigil in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.
Bureau Report Bureau Report