Maharashtra supports Centre's proposal

Mumbai, Aug 1 (UNI) The Maharashtra government has written to the Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, supporting his proposal to raise a Central force to fight terrorism.

This was revealed by Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, while talking to reporters at Mantralaya here today.

Patil said internal security was a grater threat to lives of citizens than an external war. ''Eight thousand lives were lost in wars up to the Kargil conflict, while 53,000 citizens were killed in terrorists and Naxalites attacks''.

The deputy chief minister held consultations with department officials about the new law, meting out punishment to attackers of journalists, doctors and government officials.

Meanwhile, Supriya Sule, MP, had met Mr Patil and asked the government to take up cause of child abuse. She was accompanied by activists of child-line, an NGO. They submitted a copy of an act enacted by the Goa government against paedophilia.

Mr Patil has asked his department to study the same. 'The state government will appeal against the HC decision, which set free two Britishers in the paedophilia case', he added.

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