ELECTIONS '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

'ISI conspiring to establish a greater Islamic Kashmir'

Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence agency has been conspiring to establish a ''greater Islamic Kashmir'' in Jammu and Kashmir by killing members of a particular community, Congress leader M S Bitta alleged.

In a statement in Delhi, Bitta said there was an urgent need to ''see through'' this conspiracy and keep a strict vigil along our borders, and also inside the country as ISI-sponsored terrorism had spread even to peaceful states like Himachal Pradesh.

Describing the recent massacre of 35 villagers in Chamba as a ''dangerous and sad'' trend, Bitta said had terrorists been ''crushed'' in Jammu and Kashmir, they would not have had the courage to venture into the neighbouring HP. He demanded the state be handed over to the army, and Doda be declared a disturbed area.

The former president of the Youth Congress said Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Abdullah should resign on moral grounds for failing to contain terrorism in his state. Bitta also demanded action by the Congress high command against state party leader and former Union home minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed for suggesting talks with militants.

He said the government should bring a Bill in Parliament to strengthen the law against those accused of aiding terrorism -- they should be given severe punishment and not granted bail.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report