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Violence created fear psychosis, admits Advani

Home Minister L K Advani Saturday admitted that the recent incidents in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Orissa and Bihar have set back the government's efforts for communal amity.

The incidents created a fear psychosis in the society, he said addressing partymen who were observing a fast at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters in response to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's call.

Advani said Vajpayee's fast on Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary conveyed the pain and concern the government felt at the recent incidents.

"We condemn all such incidents," he said.

The government had been trying to establish a fearless society where people of all religions live in harmony. This had received a setback from the incidents - the rape of nuns in Jhabua, attacks in Gujarat, the torching of a Christian missionary and his two sons in Orissa and the caste clashes in Bihar, the home minister said.

"Let us resolve today to establish a fearless society in 1999," the home minister exhorted.

Advani said India always stood for religious tolerance and social harmony. Hindutva did not mean intolerance of other religions. Bigotry and fanaticism have no place in this country.

Similarly, when we talk about swadeshi, he continued, it does not mean that no foreign goods or company would be allowed to function in the country. "What we want is that swadeshi companies be promoted to become multinationals," he said.

"We should be proud of our national language, be it Hindi or any local language. That does not mean that the people would not be allowed to speak in English," he added.

He advised partymen not to show any negativism in their behaviour and thoughts. Instead, they should have constructive and positive approach that would help provide an environment of security and communal harmony.

Advani said the government was committed to bring the culprits of the recent attacks to book. No person or organisation involved in those heinous crimes would be spared, he asserted.

UNI

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