Karat urges secular forces to unite for curbing terrorism

Mysore, Nov 8 (UNI) CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat today asked secular organisations to unite to fight the menace of communalism in the country.

Speaking at the Souharada Karnataka Rajyothsava celebrations here, he linked the rise in terror activities across the country to the failure of the state to curb communal violence and said, ''terrorist activities were inter-connected.'' He said when a terror strike occurs, the state administration indiscriminately targets minorities and tortures, detains them without trial.

The approach adopted by the security agencies to tackle terrorism would not serve any purpose as long as firm steps are taken to counter the majority communalism promoted by Hindutva groups, he added.

He also regretted the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government's failure to proscribe the Bajrang Dal, which resorted to majority terrorism by targeting a minority community in various parts of the country.

Stressing the need for firm action against communalism, he said the Left-ruled West Bengal government's handling of communalism should be taken as an example as not a single major incident of communal violence was reported in the state for the last 31 years though the state has 26 per cent Muslims, he claimed.

Recalling that former West Bengal chief minsiter Jyoti Basu had called in the Army and issued orders to shoot rioters, when New Delhi and several parts of north India were under the grip of anti Sikh violence after the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi and it needs 'political will' for these actions.

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