Have a 'final word' with Pakistan to end mischief in Asom : George

New Delhi, June 7 (UNI) Former Defence Minister and NDA Convenor George Fernandes today asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to have a 'final word' with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to end his country's mischief of targeting Indian migrants in Asom and other North-Eastern states.

In his three-page letter to Dr Singh, Mr Fernandes said if he does not talk to Pakistan, it will not be long before the country will have to face much bigger problem than Jammu and Kashmir. "I request the government to put this issue high up on its agenda," he wrote.

He said the kind of terrorism going in India will last as long as Pakistan does not end its mischief through the ISI. The PM should have a final word with Pakistan and the modus of this procedure is to be decided by the Government, he said.

He also asked the PM to concentrate to end corruption which was encouraging the use of money meant fore more battalions to put an end to poverty. Killing Indian citizens waging, war with the State can't be settled with gun but should be won over by offering employment to the youths. Government was wasting money on printing advertisements and the faces of the ministers in newspapers almost every day. This should be stopped and the money saved shall be used for creating more jobs, he said.

Mr Fernandes who owes his political existance to the people of Bihar said, he was apprised about the massacre of poor Bihari workers who were in Asom to earn their livelihood but were also aiding development of the state through hard work.

The influx of Bangladeshis into Asom had made people worry about the future of state. Everyone, including the government was aware of the happenings in the state lawlessness. Extortion threats, kidnappings and exodus of business community and labourers, all of which aimed to destroy the economy of the state.

Mr Fernandes who vowed not to have any interaction with the PM after he refused to accept NDA memorandum said he was only conveying the misery of the people of Bihar. Incidentally it was during his tenure as Defence Minister, the army was deployed along the international border for over one year to pressurise Pakistan after the attack on Parliament in December 2002.

UNI