New epicentre of terror could be Bangladesh, warns BJP
Dated 28/7/2005
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The BJP on Wednesday cautioned the Union Government of the likely emergence of Bangladesh as the new epicentre of terrorism and demanded a White Paper on illegal immigration into the country through its eastern border.
Expressing grave concern over the internal security of the country, specially in the insurgency-infested north eastern parts, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh said, "What we have witnessed on the Western border is a live reality today in the eastern border. The situation in Bangladesh today is far worse and so unstable that we ignore it at our own peril."
While initiating a debate on the increasing incidents of terrorism, with special reference to Ayodhya, Mr Singh recalled his talks with Bhutan King to flush out ULFA insurgents. Mr Singh said that the Bhutan King, while expressing his willingness to dismantle the ULFA's northern command camps located there, had apprehended that India will never be able to persuade Bangladesh to dismantle ULFA's southern command camps there.
"I now find that Bhutan's fears are coming true," Mr Singh said, adding that India has not been able till now to persuade Bangladesh to flush out ULFA terrorists from there.
The Prime Minister should recognise the reality of the situation as the solution lies in a perfect and clear awareness and understanding of the problem, Mr Singh added.
Referring to how the Taliban in Afghanistan and Osama bin Laden were armed by "a super power" through Pakistan, to become a tool for radical Islam to serve its interests in the region and how both countries had become "a crucible for terrorism", Mr Singh stressed that there should be no laxity in responding to the developing situation.
Mr Jaswant Singh said cross-border terrorism, which is ultimately the cause for internal trouble cannot be tackled with an "ad hoc approach."
"It is not like traffic management where once you give green, then red, and then amber. It should be tackled with a fixity of purpose," he stressed.
Coming down heavily on the Centre for its handling of Naxalism, Mr Singh said the way the Congress-led government was handling the PWG in Andhra Pradesh and insurgency in Manipur and other Northeast states, showed that it was considering party interests above those of the nation.
Mr Jaswant Singh read out some excerpts from the transcript of an interview of the People's War Group military commander aired on a domestic TV channel last year to show to what extent extremism and anarchy had taken roots in some Andhra Pradesh districts.
Mr Singh also castigated the government for its handling of the NSCN (IM). Mr Singh said that NSCN (I-M) military commanders have been thronging the whole of what they consider the Nagalim, comprising parts of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur to extend their hold over the area. But the government is simply ignoring them, while they are spreading the impression that their ceasefire agreement with the Centre entitles them to take care of their rival groups through violence against them.
Mr Singh also expressed concern over the continuing economic blockade by a Naga student organisation and the government ''silence'' over it.
The government should clarify its stand on all these points and should come out with a statement, he said.
On the Assam situation, Mr Singh said: ''It saddens me to note that the present government does not recognise the extent of illegal migration into the state. Assam is a state with a fractured identity.''
Ironically, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, in his reply to the debate ignored most of the concerns raised by Mr Singh. All he did was reel out some obscure statistics and crack a not-so-funny joke about two wives bragging about their husbands' bravery. One was able to scare tigers by showing them his gun and the other merely by showing his license.