Kumaraswamy denies hand of BJP in listing of naxals

Bangalore, Jun 27 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today denied that coalition partner Bharatiya Janata party had any say in the publication of the list of naxalites belonging to CPI(Maoists) active in the state along with their photographs.

The state police for the first time had come out with a list of 26 'hardcore' naxals and conceded that the movement had taken roots after being first noticed in 2001. It had published the names along with photographs of insurgents, along with their supporters and sympathisers, operating in the forests of western ghat districts of Chikmagalur, Shimoga and Udupi.

Speaking to newsmen after inaugurating a conference of senior police officers here Mr Kumaraswamy denied alligations that said there was any pressure from the BJP while the list was prepared.

Stating that government would not tolerate any activities under the banner of any progressive organisations in support of Naxalites, the Chief Minister ruled out his intervention in the issue of publication of the list. "The state government will not bring any pressure on the state police either to delete or modify the lsit" he stated.

The Karnataka Home minister M P Prakash, who had earlier expressed publicly objected to the publication of certain organisations and individuals in the list, however denied the allegations that BJP had influenced in preparing the list. "There is no question of meddling with the duties of the state police in removing the names of certain individuals and organisations from the list," he clarified.

UNI