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Sunday, Nov 25, 2007
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UNPA: Centre lax in controlling terrorism

Y. Mallikarjun and K. Srimali

Mayawati has not done anything to maintain peace, says Mulayam Singh

— Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

Concern over violence: UNPA chairman Mulayam Singh addressing a press conference in Vijayawada on Saturday. With him are leaders (from left) Babulal Marandi, Om Prakash Chautala, N. Chandrababu Naidu, Amar Singh and Farooq Abdullah.

VIJAYAWADA: The United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) on Saturday criticised the Centre’s “laxity” in controlling terrorism and hit out at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati for Friday’s terrorist attacks in Lucknow, Faizabad and Varanasi.

Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh said he, along with his party colleague Amar Singh, Telugu Desam Party leader and UNPA convener N. Chandrababu Naidu and Indian National Lok Dal leader Om Prakash Chauthala, would on Sunday visit the places affected by the blasts.

Mr. Mulayam Singh was addressing a press conference along with Mr. Naidu and other leaders after a two-hour UNPA conclave here. He said the UNPA had taken a serious view of the “deteriorating law and order situation in the country” in the wake of blasts in various places.

Referring to Ms. Mayawati’s comments blaming the Centre for Friday’s blasts, the SP president said: “She has not done anything tangible to maintain peace and tranquillity in Uttar Pradesh.”

Farmers suicide

Mr. Naidu said the meeting felt that the agriculture sector was in a “deep crisis.” More than one lakh farmers had committed suicide due to distress under the UPA regime. The meeting demanded “total and immediate” implementation of the recommendations of Dr. Swaminathan Commission.

Throwing its weight behind the farmers’ cause, the UNPA said it would organise a seminar in December and a public meeting by the INLD in Jaipur in January. This would be followed by a rally in Ranchi on February 6.

The UNPA urged the controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen to desist from writings “that affect the relationship between religions.”

Nandigram issue

On the developments in Nandigram, it deplored the death of innocent people, and appealed to all parties not to politicise the issue and to cooperate in restoring peace.

On the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, the UNPA said it was not in the interest of the country and Parliament must discuss the issue threadbare before the Centre went ahead with it.

The UNPA leaders including Mr. Chauthala, the former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi and Asom Gana Parishad representative Brindaban Goswami were here to attend ‘Rythu Garjana’ (roar of the farmers), a public meeting organised by the TDP.

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