Author: IANS
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: May 2, 2011
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/335825/Killings-confirm-Pak-epicentre-of-terror-BJP.html
The killing of Osama bin Laden near the Pakistani
capital was "final confirmation" that Pakistan remained the "epicentre
of terrorism", the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Monday.
"He was killed in Pakistan, almost in
the backyard of its capital Islamabad, which is a final confirmation of the
fact that Pakistan remains the epicentre of terrorism," said BJP spokesperson
Ravi Shankar Prasad.
"Terrorists and terrorism are encouraged
and given shelter (by Pakistan)," he added.
"Without the patronage of elements in
government of Pakistan, bin Laden would not have remained secure for so many
years."
Asked whether India should also start armed
action against terror havens against India in Pakistan, Prasad said: "It
has been our belief that strong action be taken against terrorists. This is
the wish of all Indians too."
However, he said the decision had to be taken
by the government. "This is an opportunity for the government to introspect
its Pakistan policy."
"Those who masterminded 26/11 still have
safe sanctuary in Pakistan," he added.
The BJP demanded that Pakistan hand over to
India the terrorists responsible for the 26/11 attacks.
"Surely, if America is entitled to undertake
a campaign against terrorism, India is also entitled to their (26/11 masterminds')
hand-over," Prasad said.
Referring to cricket diplomacy following Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh inviting his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani
to watch the cricket World Cup India-Pakistan semifinal, he said "cricket
ball and terrorist bombs cannot co-exist together".
He added that Osama, the founder of the Al
Qaeda, was the most dangerous face of terrorism and needed to be punished
for his evil ideology.
"The BJP is of the view that elimination
of Osama is a matter of assurance. He was the most visible and dangerous face
of global and jihadi terror," said Prasad.
"His elimination sends the right signal…
though he is dead, he had to be punished for the evil ideology of terrorism
that he nurtured and propagated," added Prasad.
US President Barack Obama Monday announced
that Osama, the world's most wanted terrorist, had been killed in Abbottabad,
122 kms from the capital Islamabad.
