Gujarat government did not tackle Vadodara tactfully: Jaiswal

Patiala May 3 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Home Parkash Jaiswal today said that the Gujarat government did not tackle the ''happenings in Vadodara tactfully and let things slip out of hand.'' ''Sanctity of places of worships should be maintained as the sentiments of the masses were attached with such places, specially if these are centuries old,'' he said while talking to media-persons here after participating in a function organised by the Ahluwalia community.

Mr Jaiswal who had visited Vadodara yesterday said that he had prepared a detailed report and submitted it to the Union Home Minister. He however preferred not to make the report public.

The minister said that five companies of the CRPF, including four of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), are on their way to Vadodara.

Two RAF companies have already reached Vadodara and have been deployed there, he added.

Mr Jaiswal said a Special Secretary in the Union Home Ministry was in constant touch with the Gujarat administration and was reviewing the situation at regular intervals. The Centre has also offered all kinds of assistance to the State Government, he added.

Regarding violence in Jammu and Kashmir he said that if the J and K government expressed their desire to increase the number of security force personel then the Centre would accede to this demand.

He said that militants wanted to disturb the peace process initiated there and warned that such acts of violence would not be tolerated.

He said that militants had lost the confidence among the residents of the Kashmir valley and local people are coming out openly against them.

Regarding the withdrawal of disturb area status from Punjab, he said that the State Government has not approached the Union Government on this issue.

UNI XC HS SHB KN1742