Sandesh Prabhudesai
12 April 2002
Changing his tone sharply from his visit
to the burning state of Gujarat before going abroad, prime
minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today lashed out at Muslim
community, accusing them of spreading terrorism throughout
the world.
Addressing a public rally at Campal grounds
in Goa, he also held the Godhra incident primarily responsible
for paving way to spread the communal violence in Gujarat.
"I am not justifying what happened after
the Godhra incident. But it is also important to understand
who lit the fire", he said. It was a conspiracy hatched
with an intention to spread communal tension, he added.
The prime minister also expressed concern
over increasing culture of militancy in the Islam, giving
up its basic principle of humanity. "They talk of Jihad
and want to conquer the whole world in the name of Islam
by spreading terrorism", he alleged.
Not only India, said Vajpayee, but the
Al Qaida terrorists were also found indulged into terrorist
activities in countries like Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.
Rather than living with co-existence, he expressed regrets
that Muslims were following the path of fear and terror.
Comparing Hindu-dominated India where people
are living in harmony, Vajpayee alleged that the Muslim-dominated
countries are spreading terror among the minorities there.
"That is why India is admired by the world", he said.
Though Vajpayee preferred not to touch
the issue of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi's resignation,
BJP president Jana Krishnamurthy in his speech accused the
Congress, leftists and the media for running after Modi's
head.
Was Tamil Nadu chief minister Karunanidhi's
resignation asked for when there were bomb blasts during
union home minister L K Advani's visit, he asked, while
praising Modi for controlling the situation well in Gujarat
and his efforts to bring normalcy.
Incidentally, he was speaking soon after
announcing before the media Modi tendering resignation to
the national executive while the party's governing body
was yet to take a final decision in this regard.
Accusing the Congress of organising chief
ministers' meeting in Guwahati with a sole intention to
get Modi sacked, the party chief also appealed to the opposition
party not to play such games. "Even we can play such games",
he warned.
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