The Hindu : 'India has right to pre-emptive strike'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 07, 2003

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National

'India has right to pre-emptive strike'

By Luv Puri

Jammu April 6. The Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Shahnawaz Hussain, today said that India reserved the right for pre-emptive strikes if Pakistan continued to abet and sponsor terrorism.

Addressing BJP workers on the occasion of the party's foundation day here, he said India had the right to defend its citizens and territorial integrity.

Mr. Hussain told Pakistan not to underestimate the military strength of India and said: "Even if Pakistan approaches the U.S. to come to its rescue, we have to think in terms of our own interest and security. The Gulf countries have their compulsions for not opposing U.S. action on Iraq but the same standards do not apply for India."

He termed Pakistan as the biggest enemy of Muslims in India for sponsoring `jehadi' terrorism.

The Minister claimed credit for the National Democratic Alliance for isolating Pakistan in the international community.

He claimed that Muslims felt safe in India and said, "both Hindus and Muslims have a common culture in this land. There is no country where Hindus and Muslims share so much of commonalities whether in their language, culture or traditions."

Stating that the BJP was not a Hindu party, he said Hindutva had been misunderstood.

The party was committed to three basic issues while referring to abolition of Article 370, Common Civil Code and building a temple at Ayodhya.

He assured that the special flights for Haj pilgrims from Jammu would be started soon.

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