Communal riots leads to terrorism : Congress

New Delhi, Sep 22 (UNI) Accusing the BJP and the "Sangh Pariwar" outfits of 'fuelling' terrorism in the country, the Congress today said communalisation of society, politicisation of terrorism and articulation of grievances through violence should stop if India really wanted to combat terrorism.

AICC Spokesman Manish Tewari told mediapersons that studies had shown that the maximum number of recruits to the ranks of terrorists were from the regions which were affected by communal riots.

"Communal riots are the first instance of leading to alienation which is the first step towards radicalisation," he said.

In this context, he said the test of democracy was not ''how you treat the majority. It was also how you treat the minority.

Saying that the BJP should take the responsbility for lack of consensus against terrorism, Mr Tewari asked the Sangh Parivar to introspect their conduct over the past 15 years as to how they were responsible for fuelling terrorism in the country.

While underlining that all individuals should be equal in the eyes of law, he said the Centre and the states, irrespective of political ideology, should work collectively against the menace of terrorism.

He said the attacks on minorities were still continuing in Karnataka and Orissa, and said the Congress told the Chief Ministers of both the states that it would not tolerate more attacks.

Mr Tewari said if the states did not take effective steps to stop the attacks on minorities, they should take the responsibility if the Centre acted tough with them.

"The intention of the Central government is clear that there should not be any attack on minorities." Meanwhile, AICC General Secretary and former Karnataka Chief Minister Veerappa Moily today submitted his report to Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the communal situation in Karnataka.

In his report, Mr Moily blamed the Bajrang Dal for the attacks on Christian churches, institutions, nuns and priests in Mangalore, Bangalore, Bantwal, Ujire, Kokkada, Davangere, Chickmagalur, Shimoga, Kodagu and Kolar.

"The Christian community is left to fend for itself without any protection. The notices issued under Article 355 by the Centre to the state has restored some sense of security," he said.

Mr Moily said though the JD(S) and BJP were ruling Karnataka together for sometime, not even a single complaint had been filed on the issue of conversion.

"The percentage of Christian community in the country has, in fact, come down from 2.7 in 1991 to 2.2 per cent in 2001," he said.

UNI SH RR CS1936