Author: Pioneer News Service/Nagla
Chanderbhan (Mathura)
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: September 26, 2001
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
has asked the people to remain vigilant as "a war can break out anywhere,
any time and in any form".
Addressing a rally after launching
Sampoorna Gramin Rojgar Yojna (SGRY) here on Tuesday, Mr Vajpayee said,
"A crisis is looming large over the world's horizon. There can be a war
anywhere, any moment and in any form."
Referring to the terrorist attacks
on New York and Washington on September 11 and the USA's response to the
menace, Mr Vajpayee said, "What happened in USA was seen by everyone on
television. We don't want anyone to suffer. However, it pains only when
the shoe pinches. We have been fighting terrorism and sacrificing lives
for the past 20 years."
Without naming Pakistan, he said,
"We want to solve the problem in a peaceful manner. We are ready for dialogue."
Seeking political consensus on tackling
terrorism, he said, "It will be too difficult to wipe out the terrorism
unless there is a change of heart and a realisation that it is a common
danger."
He called upon the people to remain
vigilant and united despite differences in their faith. "Only when peace
is maintained, the security forces would be able to discharge their duties
freely," he said.
On the reports of starvation deaths
in Orissa, Mr Vajpayee said, "This is a misinformation campaign aimed at
denting the country's prestige."
He asked people not to get carried
away by "such propaganda".
He said India's economy was better
than that of many other countries. The foreign exchange reserves were good
and inflation controlled, he added.
"We should be cautious and vigilant
and accelerate our development. Political parties should rise above petty
politics, he said.
During his address, Mr Vajpayee
was shown black flags by some protestors demanding setting up of a bench
of the Allahabad High Court in western UP.
They were pushed back by the police.
Assuring that he would look into
the matter, he said they should raise it at an appropriate forum.
