Statement by Shri L.K. Advani Leader of the Opposition (Lok Sabha)
New Delhi – 1 January 2009
I strongly condemn the serial bomb blasts in three crowded areas in Guwahati today afternoon. Initial reports say that at least five persons have lost their lives and many more are injured. This latest act of terrorism comes two months after another round of serial bomb explosions had snuffed out the life of 88 people in Guwahati and two other cities of Assam.
It is a matter of concern that the blasts were set off shortly before the arrival of Union Home Minister Shri P. Chidambaram in the capital of Assam.
It is well known that terrorist acts in Assam are the handiwork of groups based in neighbouring Bangladesh. Therefore, the timing of today’s blasts is significant for another reason.
Only yesterday, the Prime Minister-elect of Bangladesh, Ms. Sheikh Hasina Wazed, who won an emphatic victory in the recently held parliamentary elections, had stated that her government would not allow terrorist groups to use the territory of Bangladesh to operate in India. I welcome this categoric statement of the new Prime Minister. I suspect that those who are behind the latest bomb blasts are inimical to better relations between India and Bangladesh under the new dispensation in Dhaka.
I hope that the New Year would see a new era of cooperation between the governments of India and Bangladesh in eradicating terrorism and extremism from the region.
Also an Offstumped rerun of terrorism in Assam from Jan 8th 2007
Seven more labourers from Bihar have been killed in the Sibsagar district of Assam in a new wave of attacks. The act of violence in Assam comes after two days of terror in which nearly 50 people were killed. The current wave of violence began when an opinion poll result that showed little support for the outfit’s campaign for a “sovereign state”. The attacks took place in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, where an NGO was to conduct the second phase of the opinion poll on Ulfa’s demand for a “sovereign Assam”. The outfit said in a recent edition of its bulletin that “infiltration from mainland India” was more dangerous than the “so-called infiltration” from Bangladesh. There is an indefinite curfew in place and the army has been patrolling both Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts. Strongly condemning the “cowardly killing” by Ulfa of non-Assamese people in Assam, BJP on Sunday lashed out at the UPA government and the ruling Congress in the state. CPM too condemned the killings saying it showed that the state government had failed to deal with terrorist activities.
The fresh attack came soon after Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal offered peace talks with the ULFA during a daylong visit to the state to review security in the wake of the targeted attacks on migrant workers that began Friday. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi continues to remain clueless on how to deal with the situation. Offstumped had earlier in the year http://offstumped.nationalinterest.in/2006/11/06/guwahati-bomb-blasts-what-is-happening-in-assam/ chronicled how things have gone downhill in Assam with 10 serious incidents in October alone which was just the culmination of violence over the previous 12 months. Offstumped had then remarked that one could very well confuse the news from Assam with news from Iraq given the frequency of attacks and the increasing body bag count. Offstumped had also highlighted the flip flop indulged by the Congress in talking and not talking to ULFA as Assam went to the polls. Offstumped had then raised the question if the high frequency of violence was an act of desperation on the part of ULFA or was it th ULFA upping the ante to force terms on the government.
So where does Assam go from here with the ULFA or its rogue adherents having made clear their intentions with this targetted killing. By framing the debate on linguistic terms and making the migration of hindi speaking workers an excuse for its violence, ULFA is raising a red flag on the linguistic division of states. So what strategy should the government deploy to deal with ULFA – there is the terrorism angle and then there is the larger linguistic question ?
Offstumped has in the past argued that linguistic division of states was an idea past its sell by date. As India marches on in the 21s century, economic opportunities are throwing serious doubts on concepts like “domicile” and “residency” that we had come to take for granted and are deeply rooted in a mindset that views Indian Citizens as “Migrant Workers”. The Government and the national political parties across the spectrum must wake up and see the dangers of preserving and exploiting linguistic identities to curry favour in state politics. With most regional parties owingtheir existence to this brand of politics, this is easier said than done. But the clock is ticking and it wont be long before the ULFA example is emulated by others looking to exploit parochial sentiments in regions of significant economic and social upheaval.
Coming to the more immideate question of how to deal with the ULFA terrorism, it perhaps is pertinent to look back in history and reflect on the below question. Where has a democratic government successfully quelled a guerilla warfare based insurgency and brought back electoral politics as the primary vehicle for issue resolution ? If we discount Northern Ireland the only instance that comes to mind is Punjab. Some may argue Nepal but the jury is still out on that one will likely play out. And if memory serves us right the situation in Punjab was dealt quite firmly through a concerted law enforcement campaign with minimal political intereference. In fact there were no offers for talks with those demanding a sovereign state of Khalistan. Kashmir with its divided history and geography is an exception, but it is inconceivable that an offer for talks should ever have been made with ULFA in the first place when the grievances the ULFA nurses could have very easily been addressed through electoral politics like in every other state in India. What was special about ULFA that despite its stated objective of a sovereign assam the government decided to offer talks.
Offstumped Bottomline: The offer for talks with ULFA was a strategic mistake. It gave legitimacy to a dubious line of argument that there are grievances with no historical baggage of the kashmir kind that warranted acts of violence and merited negotiations outside of the framework of democracy and electoral politics. By granting this legitimacy the Government gave ULFA the psychological advantage and room for manouvering between peace and violence. That strategic mistake has now come back to haunt us. If we have faith in the strength of our democracy, in our constitution, in our justic system and in our firm belief that electoral politics provides the framework for all issue resolution, then there should be no reason whatsoever for any negotiations with those who resort to violence to seek justice. We need to be firm and unflinching in not negotiating with terrorists.
The message should be loud and clear – join the electoral process or be damned.
Filed under: Lok Sabha Polls 2008-2009, War on Terror, betrayal of aam admi
How can they say it is the handiwork of ULFA immediately after the blast ? Did they know in advance ? Whether the ULFA claimed the responsibility ? It is nobody else but the Pakistani ISI sponsored and carried out by the various organizations it has spawned. Why the government is eager to fix the responsibility on any organization even before they start any investigation ? Is it because they want Pakistan, its terrorist army and its criminal organization called ISI off the hook ?
They want to absolve the Mulla Bangis not exactly its supporters in isi, who form the main vote bank for Axis of Evil. ULFA afterall is a amalgam of yindoo orgs.
Bomb Salaam for Chidambaram, huh?
Ved Marwah speaking on Times Now opined that ULFA is no longer against Bangladeshi immigrants and only targets Hindi speakers. I’m not sure whether thats bcos of HuJI connection or ULFA has come to the realization that the Bangladeshis have so overwhelmed Assam that its pointless trying to evict them.
Few relatively offtopic observations:
1. Anand Sharma, rather surprsingly, made a very eloquent argument about Advani and BJP having failed to move ahead with the times. I would agree with him and I’m sure large sections of urban middle class feels the same way about the BJP. BJP better watch out for Congress spokespeople. They sound more convincing than BJP ones.
2. There’s this guy called Tariq Fatmi, a former UN ambassador from Pakistan, who appears on Times Now. He is making Indians look like clueless kids.
a. He recently humiliated Fmr Army Chief Ved Prakash Malik asking him to explain why Indian army was incapable of wiping out terrorism in JK, Assam and the naxal violence before talking about Pakistani Army’s ability to take on terrorism.
b. Today he dismissed J&K election turnout by comparing it to the elections run by the apartheid regime in South Africa!
c. He said Indian media reported about Ajmal Qasab’s letter to Pakistan from Dec 14. But apparently when Pakistan got the letter, it was dated Dec 19. Meaning the letter was a propaganda tool by MEA and Ajmal had nothing to do with it. I would buy that. MEA is making a clown out of itself in this letter business.
Agree with Balaji’s comment above regarding BJP.
Despite having favorable conditions such as increased terror attacks and weakened economy, the stock of BJP do not seem to be rising, the recent state elections being decided on local issues.
This is partly due to the hostile MSM.
But it is also because there seems to be little to differentiate between the UPA and NDA.
UPA is known for opportunistic vote-bank politics. But somehow BJP and NDA has not been able to project their contrast with UPA to the people.
BJP seems to be more in a reactive mode. This was apparent in the Malegaon blast investigation case.
What needs to be done ?
BJP needs to revamp its plans, crystallize clear cut objectives and its plans to achieve the objectives. And then go all out with conviction to implement its plans – which must not be just to get elected to power, but to address the long-term interest of the nation, say for the next 10-20 yrs.
If the BJP is the best ‘pro-hindu’ response india can muster, we’re in deep trouble.
I give us 10 years for total islamo-christianisation.
It is sweeping generalization that middle classes donot accept BJP version of terrorism.
In Delhi congress had 8 percent swing. BJP votes rose 4 percent but BSP cornered most votes. Was it wrong selection of candidates.
Rajasthan BJP lost nearly 30 seats to rebels. Until last date of filing of nomination BJP did not finalize candidates. Case for absolute disaster in a closely fought election.
Last year in Gujarath if you read media Namo did not have any chance. Keshbhai Patel and rebels should have taken care of him. He returns with bigger majority.
BJP continued to win Bangalore loksabha seats but never won in assembly.But this time in assembly election the campaign focus was so much and message was so crisp and clear. Terrorism, price rise and infrastructure problems, they swept 18 out of 28 and will sweep all 4 loksabha seats unless something dramatically changes.
If Arun Jaitley is spokesperson and Narendra Modi is point person for internal security and Yeshwant Sinha is spokesperson for finance then things may improve.
The Guwahati HC was reduced to pleading the center to pay attn to the illegal BD infiltration problem in Asom. Of course, zero response from Dilli and the UPA’s dhimmedia allies vigorously buried all traces of the stinging HC observations.
A bit off-topic:
Our beloved External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had this to say today:
“We have been told that there is some strong evidence available with FBI and they have shared it with Pakistan. We expect that Pakistan will act on them and hand over the perpetrators of terror attack in Mumbai to us,”
complete story here – http://indiatoday.digitaltoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24130§ionid=4&Itemid=1&issueid=86
Here is how I read it:
1. We do not know what the evidence is
2. US trusts Pakistan more to share the evidence with them but does not trust us enough to share the evidence with us.
3. We want Pakistan to know that US has not shared the same evidence with us and that US does not trust us as much.
4. I (India) told your (Pakistan’s) name to mommy (USA) for teasing me. Now mommy is going to give you timeout. You better be scared of mommy and stop teasing me
5. I am incapable of making you stop teasing me
6. I trust mommy’s capability to make you stop teasing me.
What a bunch of incompetent idiots that are ruling us..India achieved independence only from the white-skin colored Britishers..but not from Congress politicians that look down upon the intelligence of the average man.
Worth reading:
COUNTER-TERRORISM: SIGNS OF RHETORIC FATIGUE
http://ramanstrategicanalysis.blogspot.com/2008_12_08_archive.html
I have read statements to the effect that “The FBI has registered a case in the Mumbai terror strikes as US laws require the agency to file a charge-sheet in case of death or torture of any American national outside the country.”.
That seems so lolgical. Is there not an Indian law that requires CBI to do the same? This would be very relevant in cases, such as, the bombings in Kabul a few months ago when a large # of Indian citizens died.
In India.. no value for Human life.. and especially for civilian rights.. the only solution is like in Greece Acropolis.. THE PEOPLE should attack this spineless female Government and attack all the media houses and make this culprits powerless.. Until that happens no.. this government never will learn from experience…
Only good fallout of this spineless govt is that India is not drawn into a war with Pakistan/troop presence in Afganistan. This scenario reminds me too much of the Soviet Union in Afganistan. That had proven to be their undoing
Balaji, if I were ULFA, I would target Hindi-speakers too, since they are the ones supporting the Centre in its policy of ethnic cleansing of the Assamese. I am a Hindi-speaker born and bred, but obviously it’s more important to eliminate the traitor in one’s own camp first, before proceeding on to tackle the foreign enemy. So the ULFA’s strategy is quite reasonable, rational, and suited to their predicament. These days, we Hindi-speakers might as well be Urdu-speakers, for all the difference it makes.
If Gaza falls….
A true tearjerker…..moi almost broke down upon reading its sad contents…
/Sarc off.
The Israelis are laying bare the impotence of the Arab led ummah in implemnting their implicit security guarantee to the Hamas – Do whatever yu have to and kill some Israelis, we’ll raise hell and get you a ceasefire should Israel retaliate.
Think about it, this is the exact same relationship between the civilian govt facade in izloo and jihadist spiders like LeT and the UJC against India. The Pak Army and ISI is of course the 100% shareholder of all jihadist enterprises in Pakland.
Balaji: are u making fun, or serious? This is a serious issue.
Folks:
You might enjoy this episode of “Devil’s Advocate” in which Arun Jaitley interviews the Devil.
Role reversal: Devil’s Advocate in the dock
http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/81786/01_2009/devils_jaitley_spl1/role-reversal-devils-advocate-in-the-dock.html
> ..the Gods may read/hear and say ‘Tathastu’ !
Or the government can take preventive measures.
>>Role reversal: Devil’s Advocate in the dock
Lame, tepid affair. With due respect to Mr Jaitley, he only proved that the politician needs the “journalist” as much as the “journalist” needs the politician.
There are several occasions on which Thapar uttered falsehoods to “corner” his guests. A recent example is his interview of Arun Shourie in which Thapar kept insisting that NSG guidelines took precedence over 123 agreement/Hyde Act. Within a week after this interview was telecast, the US and several NSG members explained the semantics of NSG’s approval precisely as Shourie did. Jaitley should have raised examples like this to throw light on Thapar’s tactics and put him really in the dock, but the interview only ended up being “you scratch my back, I’ll yours” kind.
Jaitley also helped Thapar parade his “charming” side to the viewers, in which he was allowed to claim that his “aggression” is only an on-screen approach to try and give the best to his viewers. By that very argument, it matters little that he is allegedly the sweetest darling outside of the studio. The real serious matter is that he resorts to falsehoods and extreme contrarianism on air, when countering those whose views are different from his own politics.
Till this day personally I was of the opinion that there should not be any war with Pakistan as it may escalate into a full-fledged nuclear war. But now I feel it is better to die an honourable death, even if it is a nuclear holocaust, rather than experiencing a slow and sure death. Pakistan is incorrigible. They cannot be trusted. All of them are uncivilized brutes and bullies. Even when they are talking peace with us, they are planning the next terrorist attack. It is time this terroristan is completely wiped out from the face of earth.
See the mentality of this brutes and barbarians. They are a blot on humanity. They should be exterminated completely.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Aag_lagao_LeT_told_Mumbai_killers/articleshow/3923294.cms
“Aag Lagao poora Pakistan ko”
KSV SUBRAMANIAN, you are correct in saying Pak preaches peace even as it prepares for the next round of terror attacks. Meanwhile, our Jaichands here work hard to stifle the anger in average Indian from previous attack. Give a little time for Jaichands to cast their spell, and Indians will forget previous incidents amongst exciting cricket and bollywood news, by which time your plan and men are in place. And then, its BOOM time again.
Modi to raise terrorism issue in the LS polls
Heartwarming to know NaMo is there. He understands. He knows what to do. His demonstrated competence, administrative acumen, iron will and character, popular mass base, incorruptible credentials all arise from the same common theme – that he places India first and foremost. He can and has delivered. Crystal clear clarity. Sample this:
Terming the recent Mumbai mayhem as an attack on the country, Modi said that the people wished that Pakistan should be given an “apt reply in its own language”.
He termed as “eyewash” the Central Government’s steps like creation of National Investigating Agency (NIA) and amendments in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after the Mumbai terror attack.
“It is an eyewash. The steps are not enough to give legal backing to fight terrorism. The only positive thing about these steps is that opinion of those who were saying that no new law is required to fight terrorism has changed. We cannot fight terrorism with 19th century laws,” Modi said.
“The Mumbai mayhem was an attack on India by Pakistan. Now, India has to respond. Central Government has to decide about the right kind of response that needs to be given to Pakistan. It is the wish of common people that India should give reply to Pakistan in its own language,” he said.
A ‘zero tolerance’ policy should be adopted by the Centre as well as each and every state against terrorism like in the United States, he said.
Apna neta aisa ho. Not reflexively beholden to the US (like the kangis) or reflexively hateful of the US (like the commies) but positioned just right to pick out the best from them and learn for our benefit.
Jiyo jiyo.
This will only stop when we start blowing up paki cities, dismember jihadistan into baluchi, Sindhi, punjabi and greater afghanistan; and neuter it by removing the nukes. A few bom’ blasts in Dhaka might also serve the point, don’t f@&k with bharatavarsh. Nothing short of this will solve our jihadi problem.
ok, just read this in “THE WEEK” on Narendra Modi….they want to praise MODI buttttt……
http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/theWeekContent.do?sectionName=Current+Events&contentId=4971711&programId=1073754900&pageTypeId=1073754893&contentType=EDITORIAL
Muslims offered sheets in the name of Kasab!
December 31, 2008
Shevgaon (Maharashtra): A news regarding, Muslims offering sheets in the name of Pakistani terrorist Kasab at the ‘tomb’ of Fakir Sonemiya during the Fakir Sonemiya Yatra celebrations at Shevgao, had appeared in a local news paper.
…
Deputy Inspector of police, Shri. Dnyaneshwar Karape lodged a case against Raju Nabab Sheikh and Issar Sattar Sheikh.
Just baan all politics and have a Nationalist Government in Center Bomb this porkistan Terroristan to the core.. see if any Mullah dares to say against India again.. We should be another Terror for Mullah.. like they fear Isreal..
From Rajeev,
http://www.rajeev2004.blogspot.com
nyt: gurcharan das says caste is the reason why india is succeeding economically
jan 2nd, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/opinion/02das.html?_r=1&th&emc=th
@ Nishka,
Would have been better if somebody had taken photo/ video of these acts and put it on the net for wider publicity.
Agree with Ajay that more than Pak its the Jaichands who harm the nation.
Glancing thru newspapers has lately become nauseating.
All pages seems to have become page 3 leading to intellectual pollution of public.
Wonder which enemy nations’ intelligence agency is spending money to turn Indians into morons.
Indian public seems to be more concerned about the form of cricketers than issues that affect national integrity. Even if a couple of bomb blast occurs in Assam or Jammu and a couple of dozen people die, if India beat Australia in cricket, then that is reason enough for celebration.
Interestingly.. Bollywood Stars are all Khans.. who are Jihadi Muslims.
and all the movies are funded by the underworld.. the D-company even the stories are decided by this “Terrorists”
The nowadays stars
Sharukh Khan (pseudo secularist)
Amir Khan
Saif ali khan
Salman Khan
Sanjay Dutt(Who is a Muslim in his mind)
Javed Akthar(the hubby of shabna azmi who are islamic hypocrites)
Javed jaffri (who thinks that Muslim should have an upper hand see his face in the ndtv we the people show after terrorist attack chewing some gum valueless culture less log.
the Big B, and his son,–probably following Hinduism
A.R.Rahman aka Dileep he was a Hindu.. 20 years back converted due to personal reasons (he is a peaceful sunni muslim)
and also Hrithik Roshan who married a Muslim girl.
so Bollywood altogether is a dangerous marriage and monopoly of Muslims.
And this Hindu girls having hero worships of this Muslims thugs.. who makes enrmous amount of wealth. (for example. Prithy zinda is going to get married to a Muslim). and never shows it in their tax papers.. they should be questioned and they might have a hand along with D-Company. And this beautiful Hindu actresses are used as dolls by D-company and this Islamic bloodys!
Yoss Boss……should have a re-searched article about this issue.
I am beginning to get disillusioned on the BJP….I mean what the heck is the party doing before the elections.
a. No activity seen in the crucial UP elections.
b. No activity seen in AP/TN/WB/Kerala where the party is happy getting a grand duck.
already it has no allies in any of these states.
More and more the party leadership is looking lacklustre. Advani is just a Senile, docile old man who dosent know what he is talking/doing.
I wont be surprised if the BJP ends with 60 seats in 09 loksabha
Kolkata could be the next terrorist target:IB
Intelligence Bureau intercepts have pointed to the movement of terrorists from both the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Harkat-ul-Jihadi into West Bengal in order to carry out an attack on Kolkata.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2009/jan/01mumterror-kolkata-could-be-next-target-says-ib.htm
@ Shakti,
Interesting article.
But what in Kolkotta will they attack …?
The whole place is full of hideouts for them.
Maybe the few remaining temples … I suppose.
I wonder if they have discussed the details of the plan with their Marxist bosess ….
Soon thereafter we can expect to hear that one more Sadhvi, Swami and army officer have been arrested and the MSM will be full of yindoo terror!
Who will attack Kolkata, the land of Communists-JIhadis? Communists, Maoists, Naxalites, Jihadis are bhai-bhai. If Jihadis blasts Kolkata, communist Bengalis will say it was blasts of Gas cylinders or some miscreants did fire-works.
Bemgali communists have no guts to fight jihadis, they are transformed into most coward species in the universe by a deadly virus called Communism.
Jihadi Congress-Communists will destroy the nation, before they get destroyed. And self-seeker, careless Hindus will keep voting them and perish, like Bhasmashur. Its Kaliyug, Mahakaal will take care of all.
Have you heard the latest on Prachandas antics. They are creating a ruckus in the Pashupathi temple and putting their appointees (since the temple priests could be at the helm of opposing the commies).
My two paisa on the solution would be to harass and harm the commies in India everytime something anti Hindu happens in Nepal. Seriously, that is the only way these christist scumbags will back off.
Create a ruckus in the areas where commies and their bacchas live. That is the only solution
Shri Gurcharan das:
You wrote: “The skeptical Indian temper goes back to the 3,500-year-old “Nasadiya” verse of the Rig Veda, which meditates on the creation of the universe:…)
Did you ever read RigVeda? Why parroting MaxMueller’s 1500 BCE theory? Think originally, don’t copy and paste from colonial virus-infected history. How can you brown slaves come out from inferiority complex. The day you and crores Bharatiya come out of slavery and inferiority complex and understand Rig Veda/vedic sastras, that day Golden day will return to Bharat.
Talk about brave-bold Chanakya-Chandra Gupta rule, and not parrot Gandhi’s bogus non-violence. Moreover, there are not a single person in Bharat today, who practice Gandhi.
Those who use his name are the most abusers of Gandhi. They killing Gandhi every day and night, for what Gandhi stands for. The biggest killers of MK Gandhi is the Pandit Nehru Kutta (Dog) clan, now Italian real fascist Maino clan and its gangs.
OT but funny onlee
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r251/banned_me/funny-muslim-protestors001.jpg
The joys of fotoshopping ….
Here’s another extremely insightful one….400% recommended…
http://bp1.blogger.com/_vYuG9YvoWro/RxkHmgzov_I/AAAAAAAAABw/V9IaSyMTjoo/S240/islamicbomb.jpg
Ensoi.
/Folx, do plz pass on and share some funny ones. All bottled up and serious and angry gets boring after a while…
A nice video on youtube on why indian middle class needs to vote
this is little oftopic.
In Kerala
Abhaya case: Accused priests, nun get bail
http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jan22009/national20090102110135.asp
Tail Note:- it seems the Christian church criminal Fathers are able to contact sonia gandi and she influenced Justice Hema of Highcourt by giving her a promotion to Supreme Court.. Now this case will go off without any proof.. see the Christian power in our Bharath land….
A Hindu CM for J&K: Any Takers?
http://www.blogs.ivarta.com/A-Hindu-CM-for-J-K-Any-Takers/blog-224.htm
Video on youtube is good, sending it some people on my address book. Thanks for the link Ashish Jain.
@29 Saurav,
I agree with the lack of activity on NDA front – no new allies, no new faces, no campaign – I hope we don’t recreate a mix of Delhi result (old leader) and Rajasthan result (infighting) on a national level to give us LS 2009 result.
However, the heartwarming thing is, even when we have that, NDA would do at least as good as 2004 – 178 seats as NDA. What NDA shd be looking for is that extra 40-50 seats which keeps them in the game, as MJ Akbar said in his article.
A very real possibility would then be – a Govt at the center which is a “khichdi” of all non-BJP parties. If that happens, BJP shd immediately purport NaMo as PM candidate and go all-out against this non-BJP monster. . .
Remember, we’re in this 10-year cycle that gives us political uncertainty in India – 1979 collapse of Janata Govt, 1989, Defeat of Rajiv Govt, 1999 collapse of Vajpayee Govt by 1 vote. so, whats in 2009???