OFBJP-Press Release: Talk by Arun Shourie at MIT

Talk by Dr. Arun Shourie - Journalist, Writer, and Union Minister of India

On May 1st evening, the large crowd of students and eminent community members and thinkers, piled up in the lecture hall of M.I.T to listened to Dr. Arun Shourie, Union Minister of India, a well-known writer and a Journalist. Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP), India Association of Greater

Boston (IAGB), Sangam of MIT and India Quality Group organized this lecture. The program started with a welcome address by Ashwani Garg of IAGB, to be followed by and introduction of Dr. Shourie by Nachiketa Tiwari of OFBJP. The focus of Dr. Shourie's talk was: "Terrorism and Indian Security".

Dr. Shourie emphasized that terrorism is becoming a very real threat in India today due to several factors such as Pakistan's internal environment, international Islamic agenda, Taliban movement, to name a few.  "Jihad has become an instrument of foreign policy in Pakistan", said Dr. Shourie, "and Kashmir is just a springboard. Pakistan has undergone a change and is not able to conjure up any identity for itself except that it is that that is not India". Taliban movement has also taken stronghold in the state apparatus; Dr. Shourie said. For last five years, Dr. Shourie has been studying every important newspaper in Pakistan. According to his reading,

Jihad-talk dominates the country. The young Pakistanis truly believe that Allah is with them and even when they face defeat they interpret it as one of Allah's tests. The young people of the country have turned into "guns for hire" whose only training in life is in using guns.

"International Islamic politics is spilling over into India and unfortunately, violence is just one element. They use other propaganda and create strong lobby to further their cause," said Dr. Shourie who pointed out that the terrorists "dress up terrorism as freedom fighting".  The Indian authority has unearthed over 45000 kgs of high explosives in India in last five years and it is only the tip of the iceberg. India is feeling the effects of this terrorism. For example, In the State of Punjab 15000 people have been killed due to terrorist activities in recent years. According to him, in no other western country this kind of killing will be tolerated.

Indian Government needs to recognize the unrelenting purpose of Pakistan and be prepared by improve its intelligence. . "We need to get over the shyness for being nationalist, and we need to be ruthless in dealing with people with guns," said Dr. Shourie. He emphasized that international isolation will starve Pakistan and will help Indian fight the terrorist battle better. "During the Kargil war, Prime Minister Vajpayee showed astute control. Indian restrain has helped the world opinion". During his recent visit, President Clinton clearly stated that there is no role for mediation for America.

Dr. Shourie was in Boston to receive his award as one of the fifty Press Freedom Fighters by the International Press Institute.

When asked about the role of NRIs in the future of India he said, "You have shown to the world that India is not a land of snake charmers. Continue to excel in your field of expertise while remaining aware of how you can provide the new ways of doing things to India - be it labor laws, technology, work environment or medical advances".

The program ended with a vote of thanks by Anurag Chandra, president of Sangam of MIT.
 

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