BJP wants 'hot pursuit' of terrorists bases

New Delhi, July 13: Rejecting the contention of Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mohammad Kasuri that the Mumbai blasts were linked to non-resolution of the Kashmir issue, the BJP today demanded India to resort to 'hot pursuit' of terrorist bases.

However, BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar who used the term ''hot pursuit,'' clarified that he did not mean the security forces should pursue the terrorists to their bases across the borders.

''The message sent out by the government by the way it handled terrorist incidents had emboldened terrorists,'' he claimed, adding that ''such incidents did occur during the NDA regime also but the culprits knew that the consequences would be severe if they were caught.'' ''That doesn't seem to be the situation now,'' he observed.

When reminded about then NDA government's decision to release terrorists in Afghanistan for the passengers of the hijacked IC814, Mr Javadekar said one should not forget that the lives of 140 Indians were at stake.

About the announcement of Human Resources Minister Arjun Singh's statement that the backward among the Muslims were entitled to reservation, Mr Javadekar said Mr Singh should rememeber that there could be no reservation on the basis of religion while Mandal Commission allowed reservation for economically backward Muslim community.

UNI

Related Stories