Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Mamata wants Delhi to bear anti-Maoist cost-JP Yadav

Mamata wants Delhi to bear anti-Maoist cost-JP Yadav

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Apr 17, 2012   modified Modified on Apr 17, 2012

Mamata Banerjee skipped today’s meeting on internal security but sought to extract her pound even in absentia.

The Bengal chief minister asked the UPA government to bear the entire cost of deploying central forces for anti-Maoist operations in the states, arguing that Left-wing extremism (LWE) had “implications” for national security.

“The LWE problem is not an ordinary law-and-order problem affecting a particular state. It has serious implications on national security. It would, therefore, be unfair if the states are asked to bear the cost of deployment of central forces…” she said in a written speech read out by Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra, who represented her.

States now bear the expenses for deploying central forces in Maoist-affected areas.

Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda made a similar demand, asking the Centre to bear a portion of the non-plan expenditure on policing, while Odisha’s Naveen Patnaik sought clearance for a Rs 127-crore logistical support proposal for the central forces engaged in anti-Maoist operations in his state.

But neither matched Mamata’s demand.

Mamata’s speech cited the Centre’s recent demand for payment of Rs 423 crore for the deployment of central forces and said it should withdraw the claim.

“I strongly urge that the claim may be withdrawn and the cost of deployment of central forces in the LWE-affected area of the state be borne entirely by the central government as such deployment is not only in the interest of security of the concerned state, but also in the larger interest of national security,” she said.

The Bengal leader went on to demand a “special allocation” for the “special problems” her state faced because of its geographical location that has given it international borders, coastal regions and inaccessible jungle terrain.

“Our state, which has such special problems, therefore, requires a special allocation for addressing the deficiencies in infrastructure and modernisation of (the) police force.”

She said the Rs 30 crore that 78 backward districts in nine states each get from the Centre under the Integrated Action Plan was “too inadequate”. Three of these districts are in Bengal.

“The allocation should be significantly raised to at least Rs 300 crore per district, so that construction of important roads and bridges, major water supply schemes, rural electrification, development of social infrastructure like setting up of educational institutions, creation of health facilities, etc, can be taken up,” she said.

Mitra justified the demand, saying the extra money was required to sustain Bengal’s anti-Maoist drive. The minister claimed Bengal’s success in tackling the rebels had earned special praise from Union home minister P. Chidambaram and other chief ministers.

“The home minister particularly praised Bengal for its success in tackling the Maoist problem. We demanded monetary support to keep up the good work,” he told reporters, adding that Chidambaram had assured him he would consider Bengal’s demands.

Asked why Mamata had skipped the meeting, Mitra avoided a direct reply but said the chief minister would attend the May 5 meeting on the National Counter Terrorism Centre.

Mamata also protested the alleged reduction in the state’s quota of rice for below-poverty-line families, saying it was disturbing the state’s scheme for rice distribution among all tribal families in Maoist-affected areas to neutralise discontent.

“I would urge the Government of India to allocate increased quantity of BPL rice so that the state fulfils its commitment,” she said.

The Telegraph, 17 April, 2012, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120417/jsp/frontpage/story_15383532.jsp#.T405iVGO35s


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close