Saffron terror behind some blasts, says PC
Home minister wants to divert the attention of the nation, says BJP
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said a new phenomenon of “saffron terrorism” was behind several bomb blasts in the country.
“There is no let up in the attempts to radicalise young men and women in India. Besides, there is the recently uncovered phenomenon of saffron terrorism that has been implicated in many bomb blasts,” he said referring to “Hindu radical outfits”.
The home minister said this while addressing a conference of state police chiefs and inspector-generals of police here.
Chidambaram cautioned the heads of state police forces, security and intelligence officials against continuing attempts of militants to infiltrate into the country and advised the police chiefs “to build, at the Central and state levels, a capacity in counter-terrorism. The minister gave away police medals to Intelligence Bureau (IB) officers for meritorious service.
Expressing concern over the unexpected turn of events in Jammu and Kashmir since June, the Home Minister said the Centre has offered a dialogue with all sections of the people and political parties in the state. He admitted that the situation in Kashmir has not yet returned to “normal”.
Chidambaram hoped to “to find that elusive starting point” from where protestors in Kashmir could be reached out. The minister reassured people in Kashmir of restoring peace and order and re-starting the process of dialogue “that will lead to a solution.”
Need for political solution
Chidambaram said the Centre has acknowledged that a political solution must be found to the problems of the state.
The minister said the Kashmir Valley was caught in a vicious cycle of stone-pelting, lathicharge, teargasing and firing, leading to casualties, and resulting in more stone pelting. “The security forces have been instructed to act with great restraint. The situation has not yet returned to normal,” he said.
Referring to the Naxal violence in the country, the minister said this year alone, 424 civilians were killed and, of these, 192 were killed after being named “police informers”.
Chidambaram regretted that the Naxals did not give any credible response to the peace offer of the Central government. He said fund allocation for internal security has gone up to Rs 40,582 crore in 2010-11 as against Rs 25,923 crore in 2008-09.
Reacting to Chidambaram’s comment on “saffron terrorism”, BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said: “The country is witnessing a lot of chaos. Chidambaram needs an excuse to divert the attention of the nation.”
DH News Service
