The Hindu : Karnataka News : Act tough, says JD(S)

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 16, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Act tough, says JD(S)

By Our Staff Correspondent

TUMKUR, FEB. 15. The Janata Dal (Secular) has asked the Government to take a "harsh decision and resort to ruthless action against the growing naxal menace."

The party State unit Working President and MLA, H.D. Kumaraswamy, told presspersons here on Tuesday that naxalites have just begun their violent activities in some districts. He said the menace must be nipped in the bud, before "they spread their activities to other parts of the State."

Mr. Kumaraswamy's statement on the issue assumes significance in the background of reservations expressed by his father and Janata Dal (Secular) President, H.D. Deve Gowda, on the State Government using force to curb naxal menace.

Although Mr. Kumaraswamy chose to refer to his father's remarks in the beginning, he asked the Government to lose no time in launching a crackdown on naxalites. He favoured joint action by the State police and the Andhra Pradesh police. "No Government can tolerate anybody taking law into their hands, however big they are, and however great their cause is, " he said.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said the Government must simultaneously take up confidence building measures among the educated unemployed youth, labourers, and those small farmers standing on the verge of losing their lands in the wake of the Supreme Court's orders to evict all encroachments from forest areas. "These are the people whom the naxalites are easily influencing. The onus lies on the Government to convince these sections that `they are cared to."

He said an economic package should be drawn up to win over the youth, labourers and tribal people.

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