By IOL South Asia Correspondent

New Delhi, November 25 (IslamOnline)-Pressure on Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has jettisoned the government’s liberal approach to solving insurgency after 14 people died in the militant attack on the famous Raghunath temple in Jammu on Sunday, November 24, according to latest reports. Another temple in the vicinity was also attacked.

The fresh spurt in violence in the troubled state has claimed 50 lives since Friday, November 22. Indian leaders, including federal minister of state for home ID Swamy, Kashmir leader Omar Abdullah and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) vice president Acharya Giriraj Kishore accused the J&K chief minister of being “soft” on terrorists.

Mufti Sayeed, during his election campaign and afterwards, promised to bring a “healing touch” to Kashmir by trying to end insurgency through dialogue rather than military crackdown. ID Swamy said sarcastically, “The healing touch of the Jammu and Kashmir government has started showing adverse effects.”

Acharya Giriraj Kishore alleged that Mufti Sayeed’s policy of releasing separatist leaders was “encouraging such activities.” Omar Abdullah said the healing touch of the chief minister should “heal the common man instead of encouraging militants to carry out such dastardly attacks.”

Federal minister of state for defence Chaman Lal Gupta blamed Pakistan for the attack. Security forces feel the surge in violence has come in the wake of Pakistan releasing Hafiz Mohammad Sayeed, founder of the militant Lashkar-e-Toiba, last week. Federal home minister LK Advani had given this line early today speaking in Parliament.

State BJP leaders blamed Congress for being soft on terrorism. Chief of Congress in Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad admitted that the stepped up violence was a “challenge to our government.” Congress is part of the ruling coalition in the state. However, chief minister Sayeed said in a statement, “No amount of violence can derail the process of dialogue.”

The federal government is sure that militant violence is Pakistan-sponsored. External affairs minister Yashwant Sinha in a chat with Tim Sebastian of BBC’s Hard Talk, said, “all kinds of pressure” should be put on Pakistan to stop helping militancy in India.

In the talk to be aired today, November 25, Sinha said economic sanctions should be imposed on Pakistan till it stopped aiding militancy. To the question why was India not talking to Pakistan, Sinha retorted “Is the West talking to Osama bin Laden?”

Sinha blamed the West for using double standards by making a “distinction between the good terrorist who operates in India, and specially in Jammu and Kashmir, and the bad terrorist who operates elsewhere.” He said terrorism in India was as bad as terrorism elsewhere.

In a statement President APJ Abdul Kalam said it was a matter of concern that in recent time terrorists had the second time attacked a place of worship. He hoped the security forces would be able to contain the damage and protect lives.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Venkiah Naidu called the temple attack “Pakistan-sponsored” and demanded “stern” steps from Center and state governments. He also advised the state government to implement the harsh Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) opposed by the new J&K government. Naidu also advised the state government to rethink the decision to disband the Special Operations Group of the police which has been accused of frequent excesses against civilians.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) politburo member Prakash Karat warned that militants had been attacking temples as soft targets and vigilance had to be increased to foil such attacks in future.