Ban on Gondwana Mukti Sena to be examined: Govt

Bhopal, Mar 23 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh government is examining a proposal to impose ban on Gondwana Mukti Sena, which has unleashed a reign of terror in the tribal-dominated Mandla district, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told the Assembly today.

The government would sternly deal with any political outfit or social organisation indulging in illegal activities, he said while intervening in the discussion on a calling attention notice on the issue.

Mr Chouhan said he would visit the naxalite-affected areas in Mandla district shortly to take stock of the situation and rejected the demand by few BJP members that a committee of MLAs should visit the area to assuage the hurt feelings of the tribals.

Allaying the apprehension by Gondwana Gantantra Party member Manmohan Shah Batti that the government might attempt to crush GGP on the pretext of an onslaught on extremists, Mr Chouhan said there was no question of crushing political parties or organisations engaged in legal activities. At the same time, he said, those engaged in illegal activities would be sternly dealt with.

Sharing the concern expressed by tribal MLAs about the increased activities of naxalite outfits in tribal areas, the Chief Minister said the government had taken a serious note of the developments and was keeping a strict vigil. Additional police force would be deployed in Mandla district, he added.

Earlier, Minister of State for Home Nagendra Singh, while replying to the call attention notice moved by Mr Shivraj Shah, Mr Dulichand Urethi and Mr Devsingh Sayyam (all BJP), said the government would examine the terms and conditions for imposing a ban on Gondwana Mukti Sena.

Mr Batti sought a judicial inquiry into the recent violent incidents at three villages in Bijadandi area saying it was apprehended that an attempt was on as part of a conspiracy to defame GGP by clubbing it with naxalite outfits. A minor fracas during the Holi festival was blown out of proportion, he said.

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