Centre may consider ban on ISI-backed Deendar Anjuman
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, August 3: Home Minister L K Advani today said the Centre would consult the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka on the demand for banning ISI-linked "Deendar Anjuman" suspected to be involved in several bomb blasts on churches in the two states.

Investigations conducted by Central agencies and the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have established that `Deendar Anjuman' was behind the spate of bomb attacks in churches in these two states, Advani said replying to a calling attention motion in the Rajya Sabha.

Stating that the authorities had been able to unravel Deendar Anjuman's links with Pakistan's ISI, he said the activities of the group were part of larger conspiracy by ISI to continue with its proxy war to destabilise the secular character of the country.

Advani said it was wrong to blame a particular community for the blasts as investigations by the three official agencies pointed the figure towards Anjuman. ``We are determined to take stern action against anyone found involved in the attacks on churches and minorities," he asserted.

On members' demand for a white paper on the ISI activities in the country, he said the intelligence agencies involved in unravelling the activities of the ISI were opposed to bring a white paper as it would jeopardise their investigation.

He said consultations were still on with these agencies whether portions of the draft paper could be tabled in the House.

Advani said External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh had so far been apprised of the findings on Anjuman and urged him to send information to Indian missions overseas to contain their anti-national activities.

He said the Vishwa Hindu Parishad would also be advised not to make irrelevant statements on the attacks on churches as a wrong picture was being painted that the minorities were not safe in the country.

Stating that the opposition parties might have differences with the government because of vote politics, Advani said there would not be any compromise on the government's commitment to secularism.

He said the government would consider the demand of members for the revival of National Integration Council.

Asserting that the country was successfully functioning because of secularism and tolerance, Advani said the government was adopting a three-pronged strategy of dealing sternly with those indulging in violence, open dialogue with those willing and continuance of economic development.

Advani said the recent bomb blasts were a challenge not only to the government but every peace-loving person of the country.

He said Pakistan has not been able to reconcile to the fact that Jammu and Kashmir, dominated by Muslims, was part of India.

Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.