Advani condemns violence against Christians

Guwahati/Shillong, Sep 29 (UNI) BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani today strongly condemned the violence against Christans in Orissa and Karanataka.

'' No violence and vandalism against Christians will be tolerated. I have talked to both state governments and they have assured me that law will be taking its own course and tough action wil be taken against the miscreants. '' Addressing a news conference here at the Guwahati airport after summing up his two-day visit to Assam and Meghalaya, he informed that he had met the Christan religious leaders in Shillong earlier the day and informed about the assurances.

'' Mr P A Sangma was kind enough to organise a meeting of the religious leaders of all faiths and I told the Christian leaders about our party's resolve. Vandalism against Churches are not only condemnable but cannot be justified under any circumstance, '' Mr Advani stated.

Mr Advani had made sure that strict actions be taken against them in these two BJP-ruled states.

Regarding the Nuke deal, he said India had signed away the country's strategic option. '' What we have been saying all along as well as in Parliament debate, it has been proved correct by various admissions and statements coming from the US lawmakers. '' He asserted that once the deal was signed, India would forfeit the right for any strategic option and in simpler terms there would be no Pokharan-III even if country needed that.

On terrorism, he said the country must be saved from the burden of the UPA, which had failed on two major fronts of price rise and terrorism.

'' What is the most unfortunate that still the UPA believes that there is no need for a tougher law although everyone in the law and order machinery knows it very well that unless there is a change in the law of evidence, the terrorists cannot be punished. Had there been no POTA, Afzal Guru would not have been convicted but he would have been acquitted, '' averred Mr Advani.

'' The matter of national security should be above politics. That is paramount and there should be a tougher law above the party politics. That is why I wrote to former President A P K Abdul Kalam to lead a non-political move ,'' he said adding, '' The UPA does not have political will and courage to do have a tougher law. '' He expressed serious concern over the changing profile of the terrorists.

'' Earlier in our time (NDA rule), most of the bomb blasts were traced to plans outside the country. But now home grown terrorists have taken over. That is a very dangerous sign and unless that is nipped in the bud with a tougher law, it would be even difficult to handle, '' he iterated.

He said, '' The UPA does not have enough courage and once voted back to power the NDA would bring back POTA to fight terrorism. '' UNI MT-RRK SJC RN1930