Left-wing extremism on rise: Gowda

Expressing concern over the growing left-wing extremism in Karnataka, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Monday sought the Centre’s help for strengthening the police by providing required infrastructures, arms and training.

Addressing the chief ministers’ conference on internal security, Gowda said naxal activities were increasing in Western Ghat’s five districts in Karnataka, and to check their growth the Centre should provide fund for purchasing arms.

Karnataka chief minister also sought the Centre’s support in strengthening the manpower of anti-Naxal force by way of training, additional funding and provision for state-of-art arms.

“Apart from giving special fund to other naxal infested states in the country, the Centre also allowed those states to set up critical infrastructure in the forest areas through relaxation of Forest Conservation Act. Despite the repeated requests, no such relaxations were allowed so far. Through this forum I impress upon the Prime Minister to extend such relaxation to the Naxal affected areas of Karnataka also,” he said.

Gowda also asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ensure assistance to the state through CRPF’s COBRA unit in training of Anti-Naxalite Unit staff of the Karnataka Police and also extend additional funding and supply of appropriate arms to the unit.

On the National Counter Terrorism Centre issue, Gowda said it has been modelled on such an agency in the United States but the schemes of things were different in the two countries.

“We must not forget that the police, and law and order are state subjects under the Constitution and any direct entry into those areas by the Union government through such devices as the NCTC would encroach into the very federal arrangements and erode the powers of the states.”

Underlining the failure of  boats supplied by the Centre under the coastal security scheme, Gowda said these boats cannot face turbulent weather and ferry to long distances from the coastline.

He also said that coordination between the Coastal Police, the Coast Guard and the Indian Navy leaves much to be desired.

Gowda said boats of all types including fishing boats, merchant vessels and pirate vessels should be identified in such a way that fishermen from one state are not harassed by the Coastal police of another state, which was frequently happening now.