Uri, the beginning of war against terrorism: Amit Shah

Kozhikode (Kerala): BJP President Amit Shah on Sunday said the Uri terror attack last week was not a "result" but the beginning of India's war against terrorism, and added that ultimately the country will succeed in this fight. Addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party's National Council meet here, Shah also issued a statement on the Uri terror attack, condemning Pakistan and vowing to win the fight against Islamabad-sponsored terrorism. "Lambi ladai hai jo hum par hamare padosi desh dwara thopi gayee hai. Uri hamla padav matra hai, parinaam nahi. Antim vijay hamari hogi (This is a long fight, foisted upon us by our neighbouring country. The Uri terror attack is but a stage (padav) and not a result. The final victory will be ours)," Shah said in the statement. The statement was unanimously adopted by the National Council without any discussion. Shah said the BJP has taken this attack very seriously. "The country is determined to give a befitting reply to the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism," he said. "During last eight months, 117 terrorists were killed, our soldiers foiled 17 attempts of infiltration and the Uri attack was a result of their frustration," Shah said. Supporting the government's actions to isolate Pakistan internationally, he said that Islamabad has been isolated internationally. "Howsoever long the fight against terrorism would go, we are ready to fight and we will win it," Shah added. Dubbing terrorism as a threat to democracy and humanity, Shah said terrorism itself is an offender of human rights. "If terrorism becomes state policy of any country, it is not less than a war crime. Pakistan today is supporting terrorism openly as its state policy and is also sponsoring it," he said, adding that India has been a victim of this policy of Pakistan since long. "We have faced many such terror attacks. Pakistan has also supported the separatist movement in Kashmir." Shah affirmed that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country and no one can separate it from India. "For peace, we are ready to hold discussion with everybody but not with those who have no faith or belief in the Indian Constitution. Peace talks can't be held with those who don't believe in our Constitution," he asserted. The BJP President's statement described Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's speech at the United Nation General Assembly as open proof that the neighbouring country openly advocates terrorism. "The world was taken aback when he (Sharif) dubed a Hizbul terrorist as a peaceful youth. Pakistan prepares terrorists by investing crores of dollars and sends them around the world for spreading terrorism. It has emerged as a centre of global terrorism." He said the BJP and NDA government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against terrorism, and appealed to the people of the country and all political parties to extend support in this battle.