The Hindu : Invoke POTA to curb violence: Nanaiah

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 25, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

Invoke POTA to curb violence: Nanaiah

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore March 24. The Janata Dal leader and former Law Minister, M.C. Nanaiah, today urged the State Government to invoke the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and take action against those who indulge in violent and disruptive activities like the one witnessed near the City Market here last Friday.

Extending his support to an adjournment motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition, D.H. Shankaramurthy, in the Legislative Council, Mr. Nanaiah said people who indulge in violence should not be spared. The culprits, in this case, had emerged on to the road after a prayer meeting and, equipped with swords, knives, and other lethal weapons, attacked police personnel and public property.

He said the whole country, including the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, had expressed displeasure over the U.S. waging war against Iraq. Even people in the U.S. had staged peaceful demonstrations expressing their resentment over the steps taken by the U.S. President. Where then was the need for people to take law into their hands? he asked.

Mr. Nanaiah suggested that a State-level committee be constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, to make the people aware of the actions initiated by the Government and the need to maintain peace at such times. Similar incidents of violence had been witnessed in recent days, particularly after some Hindu and Muslim organisations attempted to challenge each other. It was unfortunate that this had even infiltrated into sports. Although the Pakistani and Indian cricketers enjoyed a cordial relationship at the World Cup, the situation here was different with even the results of the cricket match between the two countries leading to violence.

He said it was high time politicians refrained from taking sides or issuing instructions to the police on such matters. "Even if I or any other political leader were to indulge in criminal activities, we should not be spared and should be put behind bars. Newspapers had clearly written about how people emerged after the Friday prayers and took to violence. If the newspaper reports are wrong, action should be initiated against them. If the reports are correct, then the Government should take action against the culprits, and the police personnel who remained mute spectators."

Mr. Shankaramurthy and the BJP leader, B.S. Yediyurappa, said the police personnel at the spot were prevented from taking any action and this had resulted in the violence escalating. Nearly 50 buses of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation were damaged. "The Government has failed in taking action," they said.

The Chairman, B.L. Shankar, denying permission for the adjournment motion, said a discussion on the subject would be permitted under another rule. There was no precedent in the Council to permit an adjournment motion on matters pertaining to law and order.

Industrial scenario: Earlier, during Question Hour, the Minister for Large- and Medium-scale Industries, R.V. Deshpande, replying to a question of S. Channabasavaiah, said that according to information available with the Government, HMT, a Central public sector undertaking, was now doing much better.

If required, the State Government would suggest to the Centre to focus more attention on improving HMT, Mr. Deshpande said.

He said that of the 134 industries assisted by the Karnataka State Industrial Investment and Development Corporation (KSIIDC), only 26 were profit-making companies. The total loans disbursed by KSIIDC so far amounted to Rs. 1,726 crore and, in the current year, it had disbursed Rs. 68 crore. The KSIIDC had a clear-cut system of appraisal for granting loans.

In a written reply to P. Ramiah, the minister said KSIIDC had extended loans mainly to small and medium enterprises and its exposure was largely in sectors such as cement, steel, textiles, food processing, floriculture, and granite processing. The recovery of loans was not up to the mark because of the slow pace at which the economy was recovering. The slow recovery of loans had resulted in an increase in non-performing assets.

Mr. Deshpande said KSIIDC had well-established procedures for divestment from units in which it had invested. A comprehensive and transparent policy for one-time settlement of dues had also been implemented and the recovery of long-pending dues was expected to improve.

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