Attacking the Congress, the BJP on Saturday charged the Opposition party with trying to “politicise” the Pathankot terror incident and asserted that talk on terror was needed to end it.
The terror attack on the airbase in Pathankot border has not forced a change of track on the advocacy of “dialogue” with the neighbouring country as Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the resumed dialogue with Pakistan cannot be revoked due to “one attack”. “Unless you talk terror, terror will not come down,” he said.
In the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sudden lahore stopover last month when he became the first Indian prime minister to visit Pakistan in 11 years , the Minister said the onus was now on Pakistan to follow the solemn promise given to India in 2004 that it will not allow its land to be used for terrorism.
“This process (talks) cannot be destroyed due to one attack... Pakistan is our neighbour. You cannot change your neighbour, you can change friends and therefore we must continue with the talks but talks have to be mainly on the issue of terrorism and that’s what exactly India is doing,” Javadekar said.Pakistan will have to walk the talk on the issue of terrorism, he said.
The Minister supported Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s assertion that India wanted friendship with Pakistan but will forcefully respond to any act of terrorism.
Attacking Congress, he said it had tried to politicise the Pathankot terror incident and that was highly “condemnable”.
“When the whole nation is standing with the security forces, Congress is singing a different tune. It is very unfortunate and we condemn it,” he said.
BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said, “This is the obvious risk of terrorism that India has borne for a very long time. We are constantly going to do our best to deal with the situation and ensure that these forces are defeated.”
Condemning the Pathankot terror attack, BJP National Secretary Srikant Sharma maintained that “a right decision will be taken at the right time” on the dialogue process.
Sharma congratulated the security forces for “foiling” the terror attack on the air base and said India was capable of giving a befitting reply to such attacks.
“BJP condemns it. Our brave soldiers have foiled the terror attack on the air base. We congratulate our armed forces that they were able to thwart it with their wisdom and valour. India is capable of giving a befitting reply to any terror attack,” said the party’s secretary and media department head.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar has strongly condemned the pre-dawn terror attack at Pathankot air force base in Punjab and declared a high alert in his State. The Chief Minister said that the country should unite and rise as one to defeat the nefarious designs of the terrorists.
“Terrorists are the enemies of society and all faiths and should not to allowed to succeed at any cost,” Khattar told reporters at Rohtak.
Punjab Dy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal termed the terror strike a “direct attack by Pakistan on our soil.” “It’s a direct attack by Pakistan on our soil,” Sukhbir, who also holds home portfolio, said, adding that “our response will be forceful and unremitting.”