America's 'War on Terror' is an eye-wash: Mahesh Bhatt

Ahmedabad, Sep 1 (UNI) Noted film director Mahesh Bhatt has decried the ''War on Terror (WoT)'' launched by US President George Bush saying it was a clever way of concealing Washington's real intention of controlling oil-rich Arab nations.

Mr Bhatt, who recently refused an invitation to attend the 51st National Prayer Breakfast meeting with Bush in Washington, said, ''In fact, the world's biggest terrorist is in the White House and not in the caves of Afghanistan.'' Speaking at the inaugural session of the ''National Conference Against Fascism'', organised by city-based NGO ''Jan Sangharsh Manch'', Mr Bhatt alleged that Bin Laden, who has been declared as the most wanted terrorist by America, is in fact America's own creation.

''Bush and his junta have succeeded in deflecting America's anger from Bin Laden to Saddam Hussein. It is perhaps one of the most clever eye-wash exercises that the government has achieved to date with the help of their awesome propaganda machinery,'' Mr Bhatt quoted from a letter he had written while refusing the US invitation.

Meanwhile, Mr Bhatt said his most recent movie ''Dhokha'' was based on the true life story on how the Indian-Muslim has been betrayed by the state, and how even 60 years after Independence, the promise that there would be no discrimination on religious basis, has remained unkept.

He said the mindset of successive governments, whether Congress or BJP, have not changed with regards to the treatment meted to Indian-Muslims.

While speaking on the occasion, Rajasthan High Court's former Chief Justice A P Ravani criticised the BJP for demanding revival of POTA. He said the Indian Penal Code and other laws framed by the British in the pre-Independence era, were adequate deterrent.

Justice Ravani said terrorism in India is a result of injustice meted out to certain sections of the society and the solution lies in giving these sections their rights rather than formulating stringent laws.

UNI