We have taken all steps to curb terrorism: CM

Hyderabad, Oct 21: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on Tuesday, Oct 21 claimed that his government had taken all steps to stamp out the menace of cross-border terrorism and extremism.

Speaking after reviewing the police commemoration parade at the Police Martyrs' Memorial, he said the serious problem facing the police all over the country was cross-border terrorism.

''My government has given a free hand to the police wings handling the terrorist and extremist activities and this has paid rich dividends,'' he said.

He said terrorists from abroad had joined hands with the anti-social elements in the country to create terror and whip up communal passions in the country.

However, the Hindus and Muslims in the country, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, shared good understanding and that was the reason that no communal riot had taken place in the wake of bomb blasts in the city last year, he pointed out.

Dr Reddy complimented the police for efficiently tackling the problem of left wing extremism during the last three decades.

Considering naxalism as socio-economic problem, the Congress-led government had taken several measures to improve the living conditions of the people in the naxalite-infested areas, he maintained.

In view of the various welfare schemes, including NREGP, rural area development grant, construction of Indiramma houses in agency areas, taken up by the government to develop backward regions and agency areas, youth in the agency areas were weaned away from naxalite activities, he added.

He said the government had taken all steps to strengthen the police department by sanctioning 37,000 more posts in the department to the existing force. Under the first phase, recruitment of 17,000 was going on at present.

The Chief Minister said the country was developing fast economically and technologically and was ready to join the developed nations.

Launching of Chandrayaan-1, India's unmanned moon mission, was an example for scientific development in the country, he said.

UNI