By IANS,
New Delhi : The proposed communal violence bill impinges on the autonomy of states and goes against the spirit of co-operative federalism, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said Saturday.
Participating in the meeting of the National Integration Council (NIC) here, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Patnaik expressed reservation on the bill in his address.
“In its present form, it impinges upon the states’ autonomy and goes against the spirit of co-operative federalism,” Patnaik said.
The chief minister also stressed that whenever the situation demands, the central government should provide central forces and other logistics to a state based on merits and independent of political considerations.
Barring the unfortunate communal violence in Kandhamal district in 2008, the over all law and order situation in Orissa has been comfortable, he said.
The state government has taken firm action to punish those found guilty in Kandhamal riots, apart from providing adequate compensation to the victims, the statement added.