'India had forewarned Pak about bid on Musharraf's life'

Mumbai, Sep 23: Former Defence Minister George Fernandes today said that the previous NDA government at the Centre was aware of the assassination bid to be made on Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf two and half years ago and had warned the leadership of the neighbouring country two days before the attack actually took place.

''When we got the information about such attack being planned, we were in a dilemma whether to inform the leaders in Pakistan or just keep quiet. But, we conveyed what information we had out of humanity,'' Mr Fernandes disclosed while addressing a panel discussion ''Is Terrorist Violence a cover for destroying cultural diversity and political dissent,'' organiSed by Panum Kashmir at the Ravindra Natya Mandir here.

Mr Fernandes said General Musharraf was indeed attacked but he escaped the bid on his life.

Supporting the peace process with Pakistan, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) covernor said the peace process initiated by the then NDA government was an experiment because there were people in Pakistan from different walks of life who did not support the anti-India activities indulged in by their state.

''We wanted to build a people to people contact,'' he said, adding that the process was a success which later stalled but commenced again now,'' he said stating that the peace process should continue and there can be long lasting friendship with Pakistan.

Stating that genuine grievances of the Kashmiris should be addressed, Mr Fernandes said people took up arms when their fundamental rights were violated. ''Governments some times do not do what they are supposed to do,'' he said giving example of the police action against traders in Delhi recently in which three innocent people died.

Mr Fernandes also recalled his meeting with top naxal leaders recently who wanted him to take up their leadership. ''I was taken aback. They told me that they had full faith in the Indian constitution, but governments do not fulfill their Constitutional obligations,'' he added.

Mr Fernandes criticized the UPA government for attempting to divide the country on secular and communal lines. ''For if one section of people speak of secularism, others feel they are communal and vice versa,'' he added.

Dr Ajay Churungoo, chairman of Panum Kashmir said Kashmiri Pandits were frontal targets of Pakistan because they want to capture the Himalayas, which were a springboard to India and Kashmir was the continuity to India. Describing terrorism as the mindset of intolerance, he said even Kashmiri Muslims were harmed by the militants. ''Pro-India counter insurgents are called mercenaries, while separatists are treated with respect,'' he said lamenting the selectivity on behalf of the political establishment.

Dr Shakti Bhan said terrorism had lead to desecration of the pandit ethos.

''We have lost our identity and even though efforts are on to revive it, wherever the kashmiri pandits live, the soul is not the same.'' Prof Ritu Diwan said equating Islam with terrorism is debatable and not historically correct. Kashmiriyat was a concept of living together.

UNI