Author:
Publication: The Times of India
Date: October 5, 2002
Taking the middle path in the battle
of words between the VHP and the BJP, the RSS on Thursday said the Centre
"has not done as much as it could to tackle terrorism".
VHP international working president
Ashok Singhal had bitterly criticised the Centre and alleged it was because
of Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee that the handling of terrorism was so "weak"
in the country. BJP national president M. Venkaiah Naidu responded with
a statement that the VHP was being influenced by extremist elements from
across the border
RSS joint spokesperson Ram Madhav
told reporters here: "The general opinion is that more needs to be done
to curb terrorism. We endorse the VHP's stand on that. But it should not
come to an issue of personalities involved. We do not agree on that." The
Centre, according to Mr Madhav, was definitely taking steps to meet the
challenge of terrorism. "But a little more could be done in terms of terrorist
camps across the border and infiltration into the country," he maintained.
Turnout in the elections being held
to the Jammu and Kashmir assembly was a statement to the international
community that the people had chosen the "ballot over the bullet" and that
they were firmly with India. "Efforts, however, are still on to disrupt
the process by terrorists, whose sponsors have gone back on every promise
they made to the international community," Mr Madhav said in a reference
to Pakistan President Parvez Musharaff's stated support to the US war against
terrorism.
Responding to queries over the increased
polarisation of the minorities following the Akshardham temple incident,
Mr Madhav said leaders of that community had to ensure that further polarisation
did not take place.
Though RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan
has expressed opposition to the Centre's disinvestment policy, Mr Madhav
said the RSS was not totally opposed to it. "We have some concerns over
labour welfare, private monopolies, sale of profit-making PSUs and disinvestment
of over 25 per cent in the oil sector. We hope the PM will address these
concerns when he conducts his promised review of the policy," he added.
