NDA backs Vajpayee for steps against terrorism

NEW DELHI, Sep 26 (UNI) Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today received unstinted support from all the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners to the stand taken by the government to meet any eventuality arising out of the global war against terrorism.

In a four-line resolution adopted unanimously in a meeting at the prime ministers residence, the coordination committee of the NDA said, "the NDA supports unreservedly and wholeheartedly the prime minister and the government on the steps being taken so far or being taken now and will have to be taken in future in the global fight against terrorism." Addressing newspersons, NDA convener George Fernandes said Mr Vajpayee stressed the need for unity at all levels at the moment.

The prime minister apprised the members of all the aspects of the current international situation.

Mr Vajpayee drew the attention particularly to the kind of "total unity" shown by the political parties and American people in supporting the us administration after the September 11 terrorist strikes.

He also answered all the clarifications sought by members in regard to the governments support to the US in the fight against terrorism.

Asked what was the need to adopt a resolution, Mr Fernandes said there were efforts to suggest wide-ranging differences within the nda over the stand taken by the government in the prevaling situation.

"The resolution was passed without fireworks and dissention, contrary to what had been projected by the media." The meeting was attended by almost all the NDA allies.

Leaders from 17 parties including the BJP were present.

Home minister L K Advani, finance minister Yashwant Sinha, external affairs and defence minister Jaswant Singh, and parliamentary affairs, it and communications minister Pramod Mahajan also attended the meeting.

Mr Jaswant Singh briefed the meeting on all aspects of the ongoing exercise, while the home minister intervened to make a brief presentation about the internal security situation.

The external affairs minister also apprised the meeting about the diplomatic initiative taken by the governemnt for the safety of the indians and the dialogue he had with the countries involved in the global fight against terrorism.

He would soon visit France, Germany, US and China in this regard.

Mr Fernandes said whatever assistance the United States sought from India would be considered.

When asked if India was trying to utilise the opportunity to seek international support for fight against terrorism in Kashmir, he said, "we have been fighting terrorism in Kashmir for more than a decade.

We should be happy that terrorism was being fought globally." Mr Fernandes denied that any reference was made about Dawood Ibrahim, the main accused behind the Bombay bomb blasts.

According to informed sources, chief ministers of bordering states , Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir , Parkash Singh Badal, Om Prakash Chautala and Farooq Abdullah , wanted the prime minister to brief them separately on the extra security steps needed to be taken in these states.

They were informed that the cabinet secretary would soon be convening a meeting of chief secretaries of all the states to discuss the disaster management plan under which all apsects would be taken into consideration.