Author: Atalji
Publication: BJP Today
Date: January 16-31, 2002
Introduction: Remarks at the emergency
meeting of the National executive of the Bharatiya Janta Party
In an impassioned speech at the
emergency meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party in New Delhi on Dec 29,
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared the countrys firm resolve
to put an end to cross-border terrorism entirely on its own strength and
would not come under any external pressure to dilute the struggle.
He called upon the BJP and all other
parties to launch "Jana Jagaran" man awareness campaigns to educate the
people about the developing situation.
The following are excerpts from
his remarks at the meeting.
The terrorist attack on our Parliament
on December 13 has created a situation in the country which is truly without
a precedent. No self-respecting nation that values its freedom can take
it lying down.
This development has made our decisive
fight against terrorism the most important issue on the nation's agenda.
Everything else is now secondary.
Our objective is to put an end to
Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir and in
the rest of the country. We shall use all the means and resources at India's
command to achieve this objective. No means will be spared, although we
shall do our utmost to avoid war with Pakistan.
I have said it before, and I say
it again: We do not want war, but a war in the form of cross-border terrorism
has already been thrust on India. We would like the world community, which
had earlier remained indifferent to this proxy war against India for close
to two decades, to bring pressure on Pakistan to take effective steps to
stop its policy of cross-border terrorism.
The terrorist attacks on the United
States on September 11 have changed the world's outlook towards the issue
of terrorism. More and more countries now agree that India was right when
we were alerting the world community about this menace.
The success in Afghanistan was principally
due to the unprecedented global unity against terrorism. India urges the
international community to show similar resolve in the struggle against
terrorism aimed at India, since the genesis of terrorism, fuelled by religious
extremism in Afghanistan and in our country, is one and the same.
We welcome the understanding and
support extended to India by the international community in our struggle
against terrorism. We shall intensify our diplomatic efforts in the days
to come to secure a concrete dimension to this understanding and support.
At the same time, I would like one
and all to know that, if necessary, India shall fight this battle on its
own to achieve our objective.
We have won the battle against terrorism
in Punjab on our own strength. We shall similarly triumph against terrorism
in Jammu & Kashmir and defend our national unity at all costs.
I would like to make it clear that
India will not come under any external pressure to dilute our struggle
against terrorism. This is our firm resolve.
At this juncture, I appeal to my
countrymen to be prepared to face any eventuality - with unity, with courage
and with supreme confidence in the justness of our struggle.
In Afghanistan, the outward signs
of terrorism have disappeared. Taliban has lost power, which is a welcome
development. However, the basic ideology of terrorism is yet to be defeated.
We in India are happy, that our
policy on Afghanistan has worked. Our support to the Northern Alliance,
even at a time when the end of Taliban was not in sight, has demonstrated
our principled stand.
In contrast, Pakistan's stand on
terrorism has been exposed to be opportunistic. General Musharraf has hinted
that he chose to join the international coalition against Taliban with
the sole purpose of getting Kashmir. We accept this challenge.
I urge the Party - indeed, all political
parties - to launch a Jan Jagaran (mass awareness campaign) to educate
our people about the developing situation. Our endeavour should be to take
every section of our diverse society with us on this issue. As a matter
of fact, the nation is already united. We need to strengthen this unity.
I thank the Opposition parties for
the support they have extended to the Government at 'this hour of crisis.
This is in keeping with our proud national tradition.
We should take special care to ensure
that no divisive issues are raised by anybody at this juncture. It is our
prime duty to see to it that communal peace and harmony remains undisturbed
throughout the country.
In conclusion, I have just this
appeal to each and every worker of the Party:
"Prepare the nation, in close cooperation
with all other parties - ruling or opposition -- to face any eventuality
and march as one. Our victory is certain."
I am confident that our Party will
rise to the occasion.
