BJP asks govt to take hard decisions to combat terror

New Delhi: The BJP on Sunday targeted the government on the issue of internal security and terrorism and called for "hard" decisions regardless of consequences, asserting it was not opposed to the idea of NCTC but it should be within the constitutional framework.

The opposition party also hit out at the government for its failure to prevent the Hyderabad blasts despite prior information and said politicisation of terror for vote bank politics has only weakened the fight.

"Unfortunately rank politicisation of terror for vote bank politics has only weakened the nation's resolve and capacity to combat this menace," BJP said in its political resolution.

The BJP said it believes there must be zero tolerance and compromise against terrorism because not only the security and integrity but even the sovereignty of the country is involved.

"If hard decisions are needed, they must be taken regardless of consequences," said the resolution moved by party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.

The Opposition party said there is a need for capacity building in the fight against terror as it was the combined responsibility of the Centre and the states to combat it. "The fight against terrorism can and must co-exist with federalism. It would be meaningless to debate an imaginary federalism verses terrorism issue. There is no objection in principle to a National Terrorism Counter Centre but its powers and jurisdiction must be within the constitutional framework," it said.

Attacking the government for its failure to prevent the Hyderabad blasts despite prior information, BJP said, "Obviously the Government has a lot to explain as to why it failed to act in time when it had to knowledge?"

The party said the threat of Maoism and Naxalism remains serious as ever and accused the government of "lacking the vision and direction" on how to tackle the national problem.

The opposition party also expressed deep concern and condemned the recent attack on minority Hindus in Bangladesh by activists of the fundamentalist forces and demanded that Government take up the matter at the diplomatic level with Bangladesh and ensure safety and security of Hindus including their habitation and temples.

The resolution said that India's image has suffered a dent and the threat of terrorism poses a serious challenge to the country's security and effective steps need to be taken to tackle the menace and check its growth.

"BJP firmly believes that normalcy in relationship with Pakistan is not possible unless it takes decisive action against terrorist elements operating from its soil against India a commitment which Pakistan acknowledged in the January 2004 agreement with former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee," it said.

On Afzal Guru's hanging, BJP said it was "deliberately delayed" for vote bank politics inspite of the Supreme Court having upheld his death sentence more than seven years ago. "The Government ought to have taken adequate measures to prevent any terrorist revenge in its wake," the resolution said.