BJP ruled states slam Centre for security policies

New Delhi, Feb 1: BJP-ruled states today slammed the Centre for its policies on improving security while chief ministers of states governed by Congress expressed anguish over rise in cases of religious extremism at a day-long meet on internal security.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi led the Opposition attack when he chided the CBI for "singling out his state, castigating the state''s law-and-order situation and making observation about highly communalised atmosphere and despising democratically-elected members and state government".

Citing the Centre''s pending nod for the state''s anti- terror law GUJCOC, not paying heed to his suggestion of setting up an all-India cadre for intelligence officers on the lines of civil services and NSG hub in the state, Modi alleged that several such suggestions made by chief ministers during previous conferences on internal security were pending.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also took on the Centre for not responding to the state''s demand to include seven districts of the state, seeing "increased activity" of Maoists, in the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme.

SRE is a non-plan scheme intended to supplement efforts of the states to deal with Naxalite problem.

He also accused the Centre for not expediting the process to approve the MP Terrorist and Disruptive Activities and Organised Crime Control Act-2010, which the state Assembly had passed.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank also blamed the Centre for not including all its border districts under Border Area Development Programme (BADP).

He said though his state shares international borders with China and Nepal, only nine development blocks in five border districts got the benefit of BADP.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, however, lauded the support of the Centre in helping in the modernisation of its police force. He urged the Centre to find a political solution for the problems faced by the state.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar criticised the Union government''s proposed police reform policy suggesting appointment and fixing of the tenure of a state police chief.

"The Centre should also desist from framing rules providing for any type of role to be exercised by the UPSC or Ministry of Home Affairs in matters like selection of DGP.

"The efforts of the union government to maintain internal security will succeed only if states are enabled to exercise effective control over policing, dilution of which under the guise of police reforms must be avoided," he said.

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sought inclusion of four more Naxal-affected districts under the SRE scheme and placing dedicated military choppers in Bhubaneswar and Koraput to fight the Maoist menace in the state more effectively.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot raised the issue of religious extremism which has been underlined during the probe in the Ajmer bomb blasts.

"Such activities, some under the garb of nationalistic acts and some direct terrorist acts, threaten to disturb the unity and social fabric of the country," Gehlot said.

He said the Rajasthan Anti-Terrorist Squad is aimed at exposing such activities. "I am hinting at the successful probe in Ajmer blast case," he said, adding it has brought to light alleged role of certain right-wing group.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan told the Centre that it was not able to get trained manpower for its coastal patrol boats which were sanctioned and deployed in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

Chavan also asked the government to make arrangements and send a helicopter, currently parked at Raipur in Chhattisgarh, to Nagpur for security and anti-Naxal operations.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi urged that the Centre should press Sri Lanka to abide by the Indo-Sri Lanka accord of 2008 and desist from attacking Indian fishermen who stray into their waters.

He also condemned the recent killing of two Tamil Nadu fishermen allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said banned terror groups like SIMI are trying to strengthen their base in the state and sought the Centre''s assistance in tackling "serious challenges" posed by terrorism and Naxalism.

Surprisingly, Congress-ruled Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawala charged the Centre with meting out injustice to his state by "depriving funds" under security-related expenditure.

"There is a feeling among the general public that the government of India tends to take the peaceful situation of the state for granted. In spite of our heavy expenditure for maintaining security and peace, we have been deprived of fund under SRE. This is an injustice which needs to be redressed," he said.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio requested the Centre to "do away with" the additional requirement of MHA verification for passport applicants from the state.

"The smuggling of arms and ammunition and contraband from across the border is cause for concern. The long and porous international border makes it difficult to effectively control such activities. Securing the international border makes it difficult to effectively control such activities," he said.

PTI