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Take 'much more action' to control terrorism, PM tells TN

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has asked the Tamil Nadu government to take 'much more action' to control terrorism, which had resurfaced in the state.

Addressing a well-attended public meeting marking the conclusion of the two-day Bharatiya Janata Party state conference in Tiruchi, he said the incidents taking place in the jails in the state were 'shocking'.

The Centre was keeping a close watch on the Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan and other terrorist organisations and "we will not allow anybody to hit at the innocent".

Though law and order was a state subject, the state government should take much more action, he added.

Vajpayee expressed satisfaction that terrorism had almost been controlled in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.

Asked what steps the Centre would take in the context of the latest massacre in Bihar, Vajpayee said the Congress was fully responsible for the killing and it had proved to be anti-dalit.

"Those who opposed the presidential proclamation on Bihar should spell out what steps they would take next. They should have an introspection about their action in Parliament on Bihar," he said, adding that the Centre would take steps only within the legal parameters and constitutional framework.

Vajpayee said what was happening in Bihar was not just massacre, but the state supporting criminals.

When pointed out that such killings had taken place during the brief spell of President's rule in the state, he said that was an aftermath of what had happened earlier.

However, the latest incident was because of the support from the ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal in the state, he said.

UNI

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