Tamil Nadu a peaceful state: Governor

Chennai, Jan 23 (UNI) Tamil Nadu remained a peaceful state, compared to other states in the country, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala told the State Assembly today.

Delivering his customary address to the House, he said the DMK government has been maintaining continuous vigil against any extremist activity.

''Efforts to spread extremism into Tamil Nadu from neighbouring states have been successfully thwarted. The government has also taken strict action against mercenary criminal gangs,'' he said.

Mr Barnala said the government was of the firm conviction that equitable growth and elimination of poverty were the lasting solutions to extremism as well as caste conflicts.

The governor, however, did not make any remarks against the alleged largescale infiltration of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) into the state.

Leader of the opposition J Jayalalithaa had alleged that the infiltration of LTTE militants, posed a grave threat to Tamil Nadu and the people of the state were living in an insecure atmosphere.

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