The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : State seeks special Central assistance to tighten security

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Thursday, Dec 04, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

State seeks special Central assistance to tighten security

Special Correspondent

A high-level delegation presents memorandum to Prime Minister

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa was accompanied by senior Congress leaders
Manmohan Singh assures Yeddyurappa of considering the request favourably

Bangalore: A high-level State delegation led by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sought special Central assistance to tighten security in Karnataka, particularly in view of the location of important establishments here.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Home Minister V.S. Acharya; former Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh; Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly M. Mallikarjun Kharge; and BJP general secretary H.N. Ananth Kumar, MP.

A memorandum was submitted to the Prime Minister by the State leaders at the Raj Bhavan. The Prime Minister assured the Chief Minister that he would consider the request favourably.

Mr. Yeddyurappa sought a National Security Guards (NSG) unit in Bangalore with immediate effect, approval for three units of the Indian Reserve Battalion for the State, one Indo-Tibetan Border Police battalion to be stationed at Belgaum, 18 properly equipped coastal checkposts and 33 outposts all along the nearly 300 km coastline of the State, allocation of Rs. 20 crore for providing GPS facility to nearly 3,000 fishing boats and related infrastructure along the coast, two helicopters with day and night operational capacity to be kept at the disposal of the State Government for surveillance and emergency rescue operations, and an increase in the cadre strength of the Indian Police Service officers in the State by 30 over a period of three years.

The Chief Minister told the Prime Minister that Karnataka was one of the States with key installations, well-known information technology companies and MNCs.

Institutions like HAL, ISRO, NAL, IISc., Infosys, Wipro etc., were also in Bangalore. Providing safety and security to these organisations and to the people working there was extremely important.

Mr. Yeddyurappa said Karnataka had attracted global attention because of its fast growth rate and the presence of key institutions. “In view of this, the State Government has decided to enhance its security arrangements.”

He said the country was passing through a difficult phase and the terrorist attack on Mumbai and its after effects had shaken the country. “It is the duty of every Indian to sink differences and come together to help the Union Government as well as the State to provide total security to the people.”

Congress memorandum

Congress leaders also presented a memorandum to the Prime Minister backing the demand of the Government on tightening security in the State.

Speaking to presspersons after presenting the memorandum, KPCC president R.V. Deshpande and Mr. Kharge said the Prime Minister agreed that Bangalore deserved all protection and that he would consider the request for a NSG unit in Bangalore.

Mr. Kharge said the Prime Minister told the party delegation that he would ask Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram to convene a meeting of State Home Ministers to discuss the issue, following which a decision would be taken.

Mr. Deshpande said the Prime Minister made a special mention of the meeting he had with Kannada litterateurs when he was convinced of the need for according classical status to Kannada.

The party delegation thanked him on the Union Government’s decision to confer the Bharat Ratna on Bhimsen Joshi.

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