By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that often, the Union Government does not take states into confidence for policymaking regarding internal security issues. The Centre wants to deprive states of their rights.
At the same time, the Union Government is also interfering with federal structure, which is ultra-vires to the spirit to the Constitution. It is need of the hour that the Union Government think in the national interest rising above political considerations and work shoulder-to-shoulder with state governments in campaigns against terrorism and naxalism.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan (right) at the Chief Ministers’ conference on internal security in New Delhi on Wednesday. State Home Minister Umashankar Gupta is also seen with him.
Chouhan was addressing Chief Ministers’ conference on internal security in New Delhi on Wednesday. The conference was chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Minister of State in PMO Narayan Sami, Chief Ministers of states, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Umashankar Gupta, Chief Secretary R. Parasuram, DGP Nandan Dube and senior officers of Union and State Governments were present on the occasion, an official spokesman said.
He opposed the idea of NCTC saying that States should get their due rights and Central Government should trust the State Governments. He said that with NIA in existence there is no need for NCTC. He was of the view that instead of NCTC, SCTC will be more affective in tackling issues like terrorism and naxalism. He also questioned the viability of scraping strict laws like TADA and POTA for political reasons. He questioned the seriousness of the Central Government in tackling these serious issues.
Chouhan said that the country is facing twin challenge of left wing extremism and terrorism, which is undermining democracy and Constitution continuously. The dastardly carnage committed by left wing extremists was a blow to democratic system of India. He said that situation of chaos and uncertainty is prevailing in Naxal-prone areas due to lack of strong will-power and differences between the Union Government and its party over line of action. He said that there is no place for violence in democracy and it needs to be dealt with sternly. Those indulging in violence should not be spared. Situation needs to be viewed with seriousness.
Speaking for tribals, Chouhan said that because of Forest Conservation Act and the Wildlife Protection Act tribals living in forests are not able to earn their livelihood plus lack of development activities in the tribal areas has led to unemployment. He said that providing employment to the unemployed tribal youths in tribal areas will help in dealing with naxalism. He also called for providing skill development programmes which will increase the employment opportunities among the youths. He said that there is need to develop infrastructure, road connectivity and educating youths to curb naxal activities.
He said that the Central Government has curtailed down the amount from Rs.100 crore to Rs.23 crore for modernisation of police force in the state. Also for 2012-13 under modernisation scheme Central and State share has been reduced to 60:40 ratio which was earlier 75:25 ratio. From internal security point of view for effective action against terrorist activities and organised crime, the Madhya Pradesh State Assembly has sent “Madhya Pradesh Terrorist and Disruptive Activities and Organised Crime Control Bill 2010” to the Centre for sanction which has not been approved till date. He said that special concerted efforts have been made for effective control of organised crime network and checking circulation of faking currency, wild life related offences and interstate drug trafficking by constituting special task force in the state. Providing security to women and preventing crimes against them is on our priority list.