Gandhinagar, Feb. 18 (PTI): The ruling BJP and the main opposition Congress traded barbs in the Gujarat Assembly Monday as they condemned the February 14 terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir.
While the BJP claimed the "unresolved" Kashmir issue was the root cause of today's situation, the opposition party raked up the release of terrorist Maulana Masood Azhar.
Legislators cutting across the party lines condemned the terror attack in Pulwama last week in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed.
The Gujarat government has called a five-day session of the Assembly from today to present a vote-on- account instead of a full budget due to the coming Lok Sabha polls.
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government was taking all necessary steps to wipe out terrorism.
"This House, in one voice, condemns the terror attack on our jawans. All the political parties have come together to fight terrorism. Every citizen of this country is with our soldiers. People want a fight-to-finish to wipe out terrorists completely," he said.
Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani said while people extended unconditional support to the Centre to fight terrorism, several attacks have taken place on the armed forces in Kashmir in the last couple of years.
"There are many other means to acquire power. But when someone tries to break our unity, we all must resolve to give a befitting reply to such elements. Mere talks will not serve any purpose. We have to take decisive steps to eliminate terrorism," said the Congress leader.
Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said the root cause of the current situation was the unresolved Kashmir issue.
"If Congress leaders had allowed (then Union home minister) Sardar Patel to handle the Kashmir issue...we may not have been facing this problem today," he said.
Responding to him, Congress' Amit Chavda said Congress leaders have committed several sacrifices to maintain India's unity and integrity.
Referring to Modi, Chavda said people are now demanding decisive action, not just assurances.
"Terrorist Masood Azhar, who was behind this attack, was released in the past. If he had been still in our custody, this attack may not have taken place," Chavda said.
The Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad, which has claimed responsibility for the last week's attack, was founded by Azhar. He was released by the BJP government in 1999 in exchange for the passengers of a hijacked Indian Airlines' flight.
Objecting to the Congress leader's remarks, Speaker Rajendra Trivedi asked him to stick to paying condolences to the martyred soldiers.
Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said such terror attacks have been taking place for over 20 years, while Modi became prime minister only five years ago.
The Assembly was adjourned for the day after paying condolences.
