Pioneer News Service / Patna
The Pioneer
July 9, 1999
Title: Keep quiet on Kargil, Thakre tells Sonia Author: Pioneer News Service / Patna Publication: The Pioneer Date: July 9, 1999 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Kushabhau Thakre has advised Congress President Sonia Gandhi to refrain from commenting on Kargil as she was unaware of the entire gamut of Kashmir problem. Talking to newspersons in Patna on Thursday, Mr Thakre said, "Ms Gandhi was not from India and was unaware of its history and problems. She should not comment on a sensitive issue like this," he said. Mr Thakre was replying to statements attributed to Ms Gandhi that India was not safe in the hands of BJP. "Ms Gandhi should know that India conceded one-third of Kashmir to Pakistan when Congress was in the power. She should also know that militancy and intrusion were the legacy of Congress misrule over the last five decades. Mr Thakre observed that trans-border infiltration of Pakistan-supported militants into Kashmir was going on for the last 10 years. "It is the first time that the BJP-led Government was firmly responding to the Pakistan's ugly design," he said. The BJP chief said the Congress should not have raised such a hue and cry over the Kargil situation when the entire nation was united behind the armed forces. "Congress is only trying to highlight a distorted version of Kargil conflict. It is ignoring our achievements and our success against the infiltrator. We have already broken their backbone and are sure to drive them out in the coming days. The Congress is disregarding the sacrifices made by the jawans," he said. Mr Thakre said the situation in Kashmir had improved radically before the Kargil conflict. "Tourists were back and normalcy was returning due to strong measures initiated by the government to flush out the militants," Mr Thakre said. The BJP chief did not admit that the Vajpayee government was to be blamed for security lapses leading to the Kargil infiltration. He said it was not possible to physically guard each and every inch of the border and we have to rely on our forces to answer any misadventure. "Every year the troops would pull back during winter. It was the same this year also. The BJP-led Government had not affected any changes at the border fort which it could be held responsible," he said. Mr Thakre also raised the issue of intrusion of foreign nationals into Bihar and West Bengal and claimed that these were allowed to go on because of political consideration by the state governments. He parried questions on whether the BJP would make Kargil an election issue. When pressed, he said the party would highlight all the positive achievements of the Vajpayee government. Mr Thakre hinted that the BJP-Samata combine could go for a broadbase alliance with some other parties in Bihar. "Both the parties may leave some seats from our prospective allies." Mr Thakre's statement is being considered politically significant because Janata Dal (JD) leader Ram Vilas Paswan and former Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra are reported to be in touch with BJP and Samata leaders to finalise a poll pact against the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the state. He criticised the Left parties and the Congress for opposing the dismissal of the Rabri Devi government and said the coming elections will signal beginning of the end of Mr Laloo Yadav's hold over Bihar.
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