The Hindu : Karnataka News : Naxal issue: Govt. comes under fire in both Houses

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 15, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Naxal issue: Govt. comes under fire in both Houses

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, MARCH 14. The Opposition in both Houses of the legislature today took the Government to task for its "poor track record" in the law and order front and alleged that Bangalore city has become a centre for naxalite and terrorist activities.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, B.S. Yediyurappa, who initiated the debate on the law and order situation in the State, said several naxalite leaders and terrorists have been residing in Bangalore.

Officials clueless

But the officials of the Home Department, the police and the intelligence officials are clueless about their activities.

The Government machinery has failed to contain their activities in Malnad and other areas of the State, he added.

The Opposition criticised the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, for "not having listened to sound counsel" on the naxal issue.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, D.H. Shankaramurthy, said that seven months ago, he urged the Chief Minister to consider the dangerous portents of inaction on the presence of naxalites in the Kudermukh National Park, who, he said, are inciting tribal people in the region only to further their own belief in violence.

Mr. Yediyurappa said about 400 Inter-Services Intelligence personnel have been operating from the city. Hundreds of nationals from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and African countries have been residing in Bangalore without valid passports and visas.

`Arrest intellectuals'

He urged Mr. Singh to take steps to arrest pro-naxalite intellectuals.

He sought to know why the Chief Minister held talks with the leaders of the Citizens' Initiative for Peace when they opposed the Government's decision to deploy Special Task Force in the Western Ghats to curb naxalite activities.

In the Legislative Council, Mr. Shankaramurthy said the Government has entertained "pseudo intellectuals" who support groups that carry sophisticated arms.

When alleged militants attacked a BJP worker and warned him of dire consequences if he did not leave the party, the Government did not initiate police action against them.

After the naxalite Saket Rajan was killed in an encounter and naxal supporters Gaddar and Varavara Rao came calling, they were allowed to get away with public declarations that there would be a "bullet for bullet" response. When the retaliation came in the form of the Pavagada killing of policemen, the Government allowed Gaddar and Mr. Rao to demand a memorial for the slain activists, he said.

`Warnings ignored'

Mr. Shankaramurthy said if the Government had been genuinely interested in wiping out naxalism, Mr. Singh would have heeded the warnings of the BJP and initiated action.

"I had suggested that local legislators, panchayat members and other representatives of people should have been asked to come up with ideas," he said.

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