K'taka Govt will put down militancy with iron hand: DCM

Udupi, Karnataka, Apr 2 (UNI) The JD(S)-BJP Government in Karnataka will take stringent action against ISI-sponsored militants as well as those harbouring such anti-social elements, Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said today.

Talking to newspersons here after visiting the famous Sri Krishna temple, Sri Kukke Subramanya temple and Sri Kshetra Dharmastala, he strongly condemned the recent communal riots in Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada district, in which one person was killed and said the Government would not allow places like Bhatkal to become shelters for anti-national activities.

Claiming the presence of international hand in the Bhatkal riots, Mr Yediyurappa said stringent action would be taken against all those trying to destabilise peace and tranquility in the region.

To a query, he said the State Government had received information from the Central Intelligence Bureau long ago about Karnataka, particularly the coastal districts of the State, becoming harbouring place for anti-national activities with ISI support. But the previous Government had failed to take any strict action on the information received, he alleged.

The Deputy Chief Minister took exception to the Opposition Congress for having insulted the Assembly Speaker and stalling the House proceedings throughout the session and said the Speaker's ruling was final on any matter. ''When they have insulted the Speaker, how and with which face will they appraoch the Government to lodge the complaint,'' he asked.

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