Staff Reporter/New Delhi
The Pioneer
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Title:'No jehad can take Kashmir': Vajpayee Author:Staff Reporter/New Delhi Publication: The Pioneer DatAugust 16, 2001 Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Wednesday issued a stern warning to the Pakistan for indulging in cross-border terrorism. Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort on the 54th Independence Day, Mr Vajpayee did not mince words while referring to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. In an assertive tone, the Prime Minister said cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir cannot be termed as jehad. He said, "Our peace process will continue, but no efforts will be spared to crush cross-border terrorism." Prime Minister Vajpayee salutes after completing his I-Day address to the nation - Sanjeev Rastogi / Pioneer "What kind of jehad is this? Innocent people are being killed," he said with reference to the post Agra-summit killings in Doda and Kishtwar and the train blast at Ghaziabad on Tuesday. "The activities of Pakistan-backed jehadi organisations are napak (unholy). They are against the tenets of Islam and humanism," he said. Lashing out at the Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf, Mr Vajpayee said the Pakistani mehmaan came to India with a one-point agenda. "It is not possible to forget the Lahore Declaration and the Simla Agreement, it is not acceptable to us," he said. In his fourth consecutive Independence Day address, the Prime Minister spoke with renewed vigour. Confident in both his step and speech, Mr Vajpayee seemed eager to speak to his countrymen. He began the speech even as the band was playing. After a pause, he began again and paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose and all those who laid down their lives for the Nation. Earlier he inspected an inter-services guard of honour. Mr Vajpayee in his trademark dhoti-kurta was received by the Defence Minister Jaswant Singh, who stood out with his bright yellow saafa. Schoolchildren in yellow tracksuits cheered wildly as the Prime Minister's motorcade drove by. While the Prime Minister reiterated his resolve to work for the socio-economic development of the nation, commitment to peace was at the top of his agenda. Mr Vajpayee promised that free and fair elections would be held in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan, he said, must know that the Lahore Declaration and Simla Agreement will continue to be the basis for further bilateral talks. "I told our guest at Agra that we had been fighting for 50 years and no one has benefitted from war," he said. Driving the point home, Mr Vajpayee said Pakistan could not get Kashmir through war and will certainly not get it through jehad. Touching popular sentiment Mr Vajpayee said, "India's diversity should not be seen as a sign of weakness. It is our strength, I want to tell people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, we feel your pain." Mr Vajpayee's reassuring tone was backed by the sense of security provided by the helicopters that were keeping a tight vigil from the air. Quoting Shayer-e-Kashmir Mahjoor, he said, "The land of you Kashmiris is the same. If the Muslim is milk, the Hindu is sugar. Mix this milk with the sugar." "Kashmiriyat is a fine example of sarv dharma sambhava. It negates the Two-Nation Theory. We are indeed proud of this Kashmiriyat," Mr Vajpayee said. "The situation in the North-Eastern States is a matter of special concern to us. Violence complicates problems; it does not solve them. It has created hurdles in the path of development of the North-East." "Today I would like to reassure my sisters and brothers in the North-East that the comprehensive peace process, that we have begun in the region, will bear desired results," he said. Talking about the post-Pokhran problems, Mr Vajpayee said, "Remember, the many hardships that we had to go through three years ago in the aftermath of the nuclear tests at Pokhran. Today, those difficulties are receding. We faced those hardships for the sake of our national security, and we did so successfully. Today our relations with many important countries of the world have grown stronger and deeper. We are engaged in a strategic dialogue with them on a regular basis." "India's prestige has gone up globally," he said. Mr Vajpayee promised the country an economically and socially sound future. He said, "The number of people living below the poverty line had come down, however, a lot remained to be done. It is true that India's economy is currently going through a slowdown. But this is a temporary phenomenon. This is also a global phenomenon, and not limited to India alone." "But there is no need to get too worried on this score, because the fundamental indicators of India's economy are quite strong. The Prime Minister was optimistic about the future and referred to the morning sun shinning through the cloud cover. "Seeing the rain on Tuesday there was apprehension that dark clouds would hover on Wednesday and the Earth would be drenched. But this did not happen. The clouds withered away and the sun came out" he said. He said the bright sun had brought with it the hope that the country could march towards the future with confidence. Mr Vajpayee said the nation had ample stocks of grain and foreign exchange reserves. Referring to the political situation in the country, the Prime Minister said there was political stability in the nation and democracy was thriving."However, freedom comes with responsibility. Our democracy demands that we discharge our responsibilities and respect norms," he said. Mr Vajpayee in his half-hour speech asked the people to have confidence in the country's future. "It has been my endeavour and the endeavour of my Government that we nurture mutual trust. Trust should not be broken". A number of new socio-economic initiatives for the farmers, women and the poor were also announced by the Prime Minister. Rural employment programmes, economic schemes for women entrepreneurs and a national nutrition mission for adolescent girls, expectant and lactating mothers was also announced. Stressing on transparency in governance, Mr Vajpayee said his Government was committed to dealing firmly with corruption. "The law will catch up with anyone indulging in such acts irrespective of the post he occupies". Former Prime Ministers P V Narasimha Rao, Mr V P Singh, Mr Chandrashekhar, Mr I K Gujral, Mr H D Deve Gowda sat in the first row as Mr Vajpayee addressed the nation. The leader of the Opposition Ms Sonia Gandhi, Foreign Secretary Chokila Iyer, Lieutenant-Governor Vijai Kapoor and a host of dignitaries were also present on the occasion. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ofbjp.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- A worldwide community of BJP's friends, supporters and activists: Friends of the BJP - Worldwid http://www.ofbjp.org/fob ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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