[Reader-list] News Items posted on the net on Multipurpose National Identity Cards-10

[Taha Mehmood]

*http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020927/main4.htm

*September 26 2002
*BJP to observe anti-terror day*

* Tribune News Service *

New Delhi, September 26
The Bharatiya Janata Party today resolved to observe October 1 as
anti-terrorism day and suggested issuing multipurpose identity cards and
compiling a national citizen register for an effective check on terrorism.

The party, which held an emergency meeting of its national office-bearers
and national executive here to take stock of the situation after the
terrorist attack on the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar, said these
measures might not be foolproof, but would be quite useful in checking
cross-border terrorism and infiltration effectively.

Briefing newspersons about the meeting, which was attended by Deputy Prime
Minister Lal Krishan Advani, BJP President M. Venkaiah Naidu said the
executive adopted a resolution, saying, "The dastardly attack on the
Swaminarain temple in Gujarat is a part of a larger conspiracy to weaken our
country, disrupt our social fabric and bring our polity under strain by
instigating social tensions. It is a calculated effort to deflect our
nation's march away from the path of development. Forces inimical to India
have been doing this for a long time now".

The resolution said, "This attack was a manifestation of the frustration of
the terrorists and their mentors after their designs to disrupt the
democratic and popular elections had been defeated by the people of Jammu
and Kashmir."

Mr Naidu said Mr Advani, who apprised the executive about the attack on the
temple complex, had stated, "The battle has been won, but the war (against
terrorism) is still on."

The meeting appreciated the role played by the security forces, both of the
Centre and the state, in limiting the loss of lives, saving the temple
structure and liquidating the terrorists.

"As this is a testing time, the maturity of the Indian people is also on
trial. We need to speak in one voice against this menace of terrorism. We
must not allow any special tension to overtake us, since by doing so we will
be falling into the trap set for us by the terrorists", the resolution
stressed.

Asking for the nation to rise above narrow political and partisan
considerations, the resolution said there had to be vigilance to frustrate
the evil designs of the enemy. The country needed to stand united, speaking
in one voice and facing conspiratorial designs to weaken the country, and to
expose Pakistan.

Mr Naidu said after the executive meeting, he had briefed Prime Minister
Atal Behari Vajpayee about the meeting and its decisions.
Replying to a question, Mr Naidu also promised to launch a tirade against
illegal immigration from Bangladesh into Assam.