The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : I had not commented on joint task forces in respect of other States: Jayalalithaa

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

I had not commented on joint task forces in respect of other States: Jayalalithaa

Special Correspondent

"Naxalite problem kept totally under control in Tamil Nadu"

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, in response to the report `Twin track policy against Naxalites' published in The Hindu on September 20, writes:

"Your Special Correspondent while covering my speech at the First Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Chief Ministers of the Naxalite affected States in New Delhi on 19.9.2005, has reported that I had stated that it was probably premature to consider setting up a Joint Task Force by the affected States. I am constrained to point out that this is a total distortion of what I had stated at the meeting.

"In the course of the discussions at the meeting on 19.9.2005, the issue of setting up Joint Task Forces to monitor Naxalite activity in the affected States was considered and the views of the Chief Ministers of the various State Governments on this issue were elicited.

"While speaking at the meeting I had clearly stated that in Tamil Nadu, it is probably premature to consider the setting up of a joint task force at this stage and I quote, `I have noted the point on Joint Task Forces. I see that two such Joint Forces are planned. In Tamil Nadu, it is probably premature to consider this at this stage. We shall at this juncture focus on sharing of intelligence.'

"I had stated so since in Tamil Nadu, under my leadership, the Naxalite problem has been kept totally under control and on account of the firm and concerted action taken by me, the Naxalites have not been able to gain even a toehold in the State. I had not commented on the setting up of Joint Task Forces in respect of the other Naxalite affected States.

"My remarks wrongly reported"

"I am therefore at a loss to understand how The Hindu has wrongly reported what I had stated at the meeting, especially when my entire speech was released to the Media on 19.9.2005.

"This erroneous report of The Hindu should be corrected immediately so that your readers are not misled in any way with regard to the facts relating to an important and sensitive matter and to the efforts made by me in the maintenance of perfect law and order in Tamil Nadu."

(The correction is accepted and the inaccuracy regretted. Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu.)

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