Kerala turning into 'safe haven' for extremist groups:BJP

Kochi, Oct 26 (UNI) The BJP today said Kerala was turning into a ''safe haven'' for extremist outfits and demanded the state government ban the National Development Front (NDF), alleged to be behind recruitment of the state's youth for militant activities.

Addressing a press conference here, BJP State General Secretary A N Radhakrishnan said the state government should bring out a White Paper to disclose the action it had taken against extremist organisations since the August 2006 meeting of the banned SIMI at Panayikulam, near here.

Demanding stringent action against fundamentalist outfits, Mr Radhakrishnan said the government should ban the NDF.

Referring to the killing of four Kerala youths by Kashmir police in an encounter earlier this month, the BJP leader said this showed the state had turned into a training ground for terrorist activities.

Some of these youths had even been sent to Pakistan for training, he alleged.

Exhorting the LDF Government to take up the issue, Mr Radhakrishnan said the extremist organisations had even reportedly given arms training to activists here.

Stating the BJP viewed with suspicion the stand taken by the state government and the opposition Congress in defending the accused in the 2005 Tamil Nadu Bus Burning Case here, Mr Radhakrishnan said those demanding the release of PDP Leader Abdul Nazar Madhani were behind the incident.

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