February 26, 2002	Tuesday	Zilhaj 13, 1422

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NEW DELHI, Feb 25: The Indian government responded to an arriving political crisis on Monday with calls for a military preparedness that would deter Pakistan and some other unnamed countries that may threaten its security, and said a massive troop deployment on its western borders was there to stay until Islamabad met some key conditions.

President K.R. Narayanan, opening the parliament’s budget session a day after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party was declared routed in key state polls, said there could be no talks with Pakistan unless Islamabad gave evidence of steps to stop cross-border terrorism in Kashmir.

Narayanan accused Pakistan of having helped the terrorists who it says attacked the Indian parliament on Dec 13 with the aim of eliminating politicians and MPs present there.

“This is the first session of parliament after the unprecedented terrorist attack on this temple of India’s democracy on Dec 13 last year,” the president said, reading out a speech traditionally written by the government of the day.

He said the Indian government was determined to end cross- border terrorism “by all the means at our command.”

Spelling out the measures against Pakistan, Narayanan said: “The necessary level of military strength and preparedness will be maintained to deter any aggression. On a parallel track, we have taken several diplomatic and political measures against Pakistan.

The Indian president, who is due to retire in August if he does not seek a second term, spelt out conditions for resuming talks with Pakistan.

“We keep hearing calls of resumption of dialogue with Pakistan. Terrorism and dialogue cannot go together. Recent history is witness to the fact that, whereas India has always been ready for meaningful and fruitful talks with Pakistan, it is Pakistan that has ensured their failure with its acts of betrayal.”

He said India was prepared to resume the dialogue process with Pakistan, provided Islamabad satisfies New Delhi “that it has indeed taken effective steps to end the training, equipping and financing of the terrorists and stop their infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India.

“We also demand that Islamabad hand over to us the 20 terrorists who have committed grave crimes in India and who continue to receive shelter in Pakistan. Positive action by Islamabad on these demands is the test of its sincerity to end its hostility against India and to pave the way for discussing all the outstanding issues, including that of Jammu and Kashmir, in a peaceful manner, through bilateral dialogue,” Narayanan said.

Narayanan spoke of some other problems India was having with its neighbours but did not name them. He said the recent test- firing of the nuclear capable Agni missile was a step towards checking these threats.

Narayanan also spoke of domestic problems brewing in the town of Ayodhya where Hindu zealots tore down a mosque in 1992.

“The Ayodhya dispute is one of the contentious issues before the nation. Its amicable and speedy resolution is crucial for communal harmony and national integration. The government is firmly of the view that this dispute can be resolved, either through mutual agreement among all the parties concerned, or through a verdict of the judiciary,” Narayanan said.

“The government of India, being the statutory receiver, is duty-bound to maintain the status quo at the disputed site in Ayodhya. It will also ensure that all necessary measures will be taken to ensure the preservation of law and order,” he said.

Narayanan said militancy and extremism in India’s northeastern states were the chief obstacles to tranquillity, prosperity, and welfare in the region. He also offered India’s help to Nepal to help fight a raging Maoist insurgency in the kingdom.