Ordinance on combat training to check extremism: CM

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 24. The Chief Minister, Mr. E. K. Nayanar, has clarified that the Ordinance introducing the permit system for combat training would not affect democratic organisations that functioned within the confines of the law.

The Ordinance was intended to prevent extremist organisations and anti-social elements training people for illegal activities, the Chief Minister said in a statement here.

The Government, Mr. Nayanar continued, was determined to check the illegal activities of forces trying to disrupt peace and cause communal clashes, violence and riots.

He said that the law would provide protection to traditional centres offering physical training and people and institutes imparting training in martial arts like Kalaripayattu and Karate.

He said that extremists were organising training for youth in various parts of the country with a view to promoting terrorism with and without the aid of external forces. Terrorism could be weakened only by stopping such training effectively. The Government was determined not to permit such training in Kerala and the Ordinance was intended for that.

Referring to the comments of the Union Minister of State for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. O. Rajagopal, on the Ordinance, the Chief Minister said his observation that the law was aimed at curbing the activities of the RSS was strange. Mr. Rajagopal and other RSS leaders should clarify whether training of extremists was a programme of the RSS. How could a ban on illegal combat training affect the democratic freedoms of the RSS? Mr. Nayanar asked.

The Ordinance would affect only those who intended to procure arms and imparted arms training for illegal activities.

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