Srinagar blast terrorists should be brought to justice: Blair

India, Britain vow to fight terrorism in all manifestations NEW DELHI, Oct 6 (UNI): India and Britain today vowed to fight terrorism in all its manifestation, with prime minister Tony Blair making it clear that perpetrators of terrorist attack in Srinagar should be brought to justice .

Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and British premier Tony Blair told newsmen after their discussion on the political situation in Afghanistan that terrorist outrage that was witnessed outside Jammu and Kashmir assembly complex on October one has no place in the civilised society The two leaders committed themselves to taking firm action against every organisation and every country which funds, arms, trains or sponsors terrorism.

Responding to Indias concerns over cross border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Blair said he was in favour of fighting and eliminating terrorism in all its forms and kinds .

However, he said the global coalitions focus at present is in dealing with Afghanistan and to closing down of all terrorist camps of Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaida network.

Mr Blair also stressed the need to ensure stability of the South Asian region.

The two leaders were in full agreement about establishment of a broad based and multi ethnic government in Afghanistan.They said Afghanistan needs a broad based government,which does not have export of insurgency and extremism as its core ideology .

The British prime minister, who had earlier paid a visit to Pakistan and Russia also said that international camapign against Afghanistan will continue until Osama bin Laden is yielded and all terror caps there closed down.

However, he refrained from giving any time frame for any military action against Afghanistan.

He said that :We can not allow these people (Talibans) to carry on doing what they have done on September 11.

Our action will continue until such obejective is achieved.

Mr Blair extended deepest sympathies to the families of those killed in the October one terrorist strike on Jammu and Kashmir assembly in Srinagar and said such outrages had no place in any civilised society.

"Those that perpetrate them should be brought to justice," he said while repeating the statement he had given in the British parliament recently.

Calling for a stable and broad-based government in Afghanistan he said it was essential to bring to account the perpetrators of the September 11 attacks.

This could be done with the aim of achieving two main objectives: "First, the perpetrators are brought to justice and their terrorist network and camps are shut down.

Second, we do it in a way that is proportionate and targetted and makes full allowance for the humanitarian consequences of the situation in Afghanistan." Later speaking to reporters Mr Blair appreciated Indias role in fighting international terrorism and said "India is immensely an important power in the world.

Its force and speed of response of government are hugely important as a symbol of the international communitys outrage at September 11 incidents and its determination to act." He said India had made it clear what help it could offer.

India was one of the first countries in the world people looked to for a strong response.

"Because India coming with that very strong position right at the outset was of an enormous benefit and help to US and I know it was hugely appreciated in the US." He evaded a direct reply when asked whether there was any inherent contradiction in seeking a role for Pakistan, which is considered a focal point of terrorism in the region, in international coalition against terrorism.

"It is important to realise that our focus is upon dealing with the situation in Afghanistan and closing down bin Ladens camps." While exspressing determination about the success of the action against the Taliban he said "We cannot allow these people to carry on doing what they have done on September 11.

We will continue the action until it is effective." He however did not put a time span for the completion of the action against the Taliban.

Anguished Vajpayee links 99 IA aircraft hijacking with US attacks NEW DELHI, Oct 6 (UNI): Anguished by the indifferent approach of the West to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today linked the hijacking of an Indian Airlines aircraft in 1999 with the terrorist attacks on the United States and stated that "condoning a terrorist act in one place may lay the foundation for far more virulent acts elsewhere".

"The hijack of an aircraft from Kathmandu to Kandahar may have linkage with four other aircraft creating havoc in the US nearly two years later.

This is precisely why terrorism has to be dealt with globally", he told newsmen after his meeting with British prime minister Tony Blair.

Mr Vajpayee, who held extensive discussions with Mr Blair on the current security scenario in the South Asian region and the post-Taliban era in Afghanistan, expressed Indias determination to foil Pakistan-based terrorist designs in Jammu and Kashmir.

In an obvious reference to Islamabads involvement in Mondays suicide bomb attack in Srinagar, he said "We should not let countries pursue their own agenda under cover of this action.

India will remain vigilant against such threats and will counter them decisively".

The prime minister said that the two countries discussed the tragedy of Afghanistan, which is caught in a war not of its own making.

He strongly supported a broad based government in Afghanistan representing ethnic groups and which does not have export of insurgency and extremism as its core ideology .

He lauded Mr Blair for playing an active role in building and strengthening the global coalition against terrorism.

He rightly warned against equating terrorism with Islam.

Mr Blair,who was on a three nation whirlwind tour, expressed his countrys resolve to firmly put down terrorism in all its manifestations.

However, he said it was important on focus in dealing with Afghanistan to enable the global coalition to destroy terrorism camps of Osama bin Laden.

The British prime minister also stressed the need to ensure stability in the South Asian region.

He described India as an important power in the region and said the international community has hugely appreciated New Delhis offer of full support for fighting this scourge.

Sporadic violent incidents mark Bihar bandh PATNA, Oct 6 (UNI): Sporadic incidents of violence and disruption in road and rail communication marked the National Democratic Alliance sponsored Bihar bandh today.

More than 1000 bandh supporters and prominent NDA leaders, including opposition leader Sushil Kumar Modi, BJP Bihar unit president Nand Kishore Yadav, Lok Janshakti Party Bihar unit president Narendra Singh, Samata Party MP and Bihar unit president Raghunath Jha, MP Lallan Singh, Prabhunath Singh and others were rounded up in the state capital.

Inspector General of Police (administration) C Lima Imchane said the Bandh supporters tried to disrupt train services at several railway stations in Ara, Muzaffarpur and Gaya.

He said that in some areas the bandh supporters pelted stones on the police.

Some NDA leaders were taken into custody from different parts of the state capital for disturbing peace.

Meanwhile, chief of Bureau of PTI Amarkant Acharya and its senior correspondent Kavindra Narayan Srivastav sustained minor injuries and their vehicles were damaged by the Bandh supporters.

BJP state president Nand Kishore Yadav and its spokesperson Kiran Ghai charged the police with committing excesses.

They alleged that even women were not spared.

He criticised the Bihar government for declaring the NDA sponsored Bandh as unconstitutional.

A report from Sharsa said that road and rail communication was paralysed due to the bandh.

Bandh politically motivated: Laloo PATNA, Oct 5 (UNI): RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav today termed the NDA sponsored Bihar Bandh as politically motivated.

Claiming that the Bandh was a complete flop, Mr Yadav told newspersons here that the people had rejected the NDA sponsored agitational programme.

He said the state government had already ordered a judicial inquiry into the recent Muzaffarpur incident.

However, NDA had called for Bihar Bandh only with an intention to destabilise the state government.

Mr Yadav said the people had understood the gameplan of NDA and would frustrate its political motives.

Official India visit obligation for Blair NEW DELHI, Oct 6 (UNI): British prime minister Tony Blair today said he will pay a full fledged visit to India in the near future for discussion on bilateral and regional matters.

Describing Indo-British relations as vibrant he said his official visit to India remained an obligation for him.

He assured prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that the programme of his visit will be formalised soon..

Mr Vajpayee in his opening remarks at a press conference said that this brief visit of few hours does not free you from the obligation of paying an official bilateral visit.

We hope to have you here a fullfledged visit in the near future so that we can focus on various matters, Mr Vajpayee said and added we should keep in close touch to continue our consultations on the most crucial agenda item of the democratic world today.

Modis swearing in online GANDHI NAGAR Oct 6 (UNI): Newly-elected Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi would probably be the first chief minister whose swearing in on October seven can also been seen online.

According to official sources, the swearing in ceremony will be shown live on three websites Narendramodi.Com, Gujaratindia.Com and Gujaratcm.Com, which will also display the important landmarks of Modis life.

The idea was floated by the chief minister - designate himself, who is computer savvy, the sources said.

WB govt not to allow militancy: Buddhadeb BELONIA (South Tripura), Oct 6 (UNI): West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has said no terrorist outfit would get any base in the state and his government was always alert about any kind of secessionist activities.

Addressing a public meeting in this bordering sub-divisional town, Mr Bhattacharjee said the network of the West Bengal government was so powerful that no terrorist outfit would get any scope to set up their base in the state.

Like the militants of North East, Kamtapuris, Nepalis and Jharkhandis were active over their demands for a sovereign state, carved out of the state, he said.

But gun would not solve the problems of the people, the chief minister said, adding the Kamtapuris had a link with the ISI of Pakistan.

The West Bengal government was alert about this nexus, he added.

Criticising the NDA government at the centre, the chief minister said the present government at the centre was not looking after the interest of the common people, specially the poor farmers.

The NDA government was working under the dictat of the USA, which he said had created bin Laden.

Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar and finance minister Badal Chowdhury among others also spoke in the public meeting, which was organised on the occasion of the DYFIs eleventh state conference here yesterday.

Talks about global terrorism peppered with touch of Idli, Chutney NEW DELHI, Oct 6 (UNI): With Britons patronising the large number of Indian restaurants in the United Kingdom, it came as no surprise that prime minister Tony Blair relished the food served to him at the breakfast meeting with prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee this morning.

Apart from non-vegetarian Seekh Kabab and Malai Chicken Tikka, Mr Blair loved the Idli and Coconut chutney that was served to him with a variety of yoghurts.

The sumptuous breakfast was rounded off with Suji Ka Halwa, washed down with Water Melon juice.

Mr Blair, like several other Britons, is known to visit the sprinkling of Indian restaurants all over London and his palate is therefore used to the Indian delicacies served to him.