BJP asks Pak to look within before accusing India

New Delhi, Feb 21 (UNI) Reacting to attempts by Pakistan's Legislature and media to blame India and Hindu organisations for the Samjhauta Express blasts, the BJP today said that the tragic event had occurred because of Pakistan's hesitance to rein in the 'terror factories', banned the world over, but still operating in its territory.

BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, taking part in a seminar ''Peace and Terrorism'' here, said that by accusing India and its nationalist organisations, Pakistan had been trying to divert the world from the ''nefarious and destructive activities'' happening within its own borders.

''India should seek explanation from Pakistan for this action and people can't accept idea of engaging Pakistan in talks as peace and terror could not go hand in hand, he asserted.

He said the presence of Al-Dawa chief when passengers of Samjhauta Express disembarked in Pakistan and their being taken home on vehicles owned by organisation, demonstrated certain linkages between the blast and such groups, which had been declared as 'parent organisation' of banned outfits like Al-Qaeda, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba. ''Despite this international ban, Al-Dawa functioned under the very patronage of Pakistan Government,'' Mr Naqvi alleged.

The commonman of India took full care of victims of Samjhauta Express acted to douse fires after the blasts even before the fire tenders could arrive, while the Indian Railways had announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakhs for the kin of the dead people first time in the history,'' he said, charging Pakistan with turning a blind eye to humanitarian gestures of the India people, and further insulting India and its nationalist organisations.

UNI