The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : `Existing laws enough to tackle naxalism'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 12, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

`Existing laws enough to tackle naxalism'

Special Correspondent

Action against Maoists facing land-grabbing charges not ruled out

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has ruled out a separate law to curb extremism of the Communist Party of India (Maoist).

Replying to questions at the Meet-the-Press programme organised by the Vizag Journalists Forum on Wednesday, Dr. Reddy said that the existing laws were sufficient to tackle the problem.

``The law will take its own course,'' Dr. Reddy said, when asked whether the Government was contemplating action on some top Maoist leaders against whom serious charges of landgrabbing had been levelled by the Maoists themselves.

On Telangana, while reiterating the Congress stand of a second States Reorganisation Commission on smaller States, he said that there could be no time-frame for this.

Foreign investment

About foreign direct investment in the State, the Chief Minister said private investment, including FDI, stood at Rs. 6,500 crores during 1991-1994 after liberalisation; went up to Rs. 11,500 crores in 1995-2000; and slipped to Rs. 4,500 crores in 2001-05.

On Volkswagen setting up its car factory in Vizag, he said the modalities were being worked out and that it should be through soon.

At the outset, Dr. Reddy detailed the schemes on the anvil for the development of Visakhapatnam and the north Andhra region.

Irrigation potential

The irrigation potential of the region would go up with the execution of fast track projects like Polavaram Left Canal, Jhanjhavati and Vamsadhara.

Thousands of jobs would be created thanks to the Textile Park and Pharma City and with the advent of IT majors.

``The proposed Visakha Institute of Medical Sciences, the King George Hospital's modernisation and the setting up the L.V. Prasad Eye Hospital, would make Vizag a "Medi City," attracting even foreign patients to have their treatment in this City Beautiful,'' the Chief Minister said.

The VJF president, S.S. Shiva Shankar, welcomed Dr. Reddy. The Ministers, Konathala Ramakrishna, Jakkampudi Ramamohana Rao and Botsa Satyanarayana, were present.

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