RAJYA SABHA ______

*SUPPLEMENT TO THE SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES ______

(Proceedings other than Questions and Answers) ______

Monday, November 26, 2007/Agrahayana 5, 1929 (Saka) ______

GOVERNMENT RESOLUTION Seeking approval of the proclamation issued by the President on the 20th November, 2007, under article 356 of Constitution in relation to the State of THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL) moving the resolution, said: The election to constitute the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka held in April, 2004, resulted in a hung Legislative Assembly in the State and a coalition Government, comprising (S) and the Congress (I) was formed. In January, 2006, a group of 39 MLAs of JD (S) led by Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy broke away from the alliance and formed a Government, with the support of BJP. The period of 20 months for the JD (S) ended on 3rd October, 2007. Seventy-nine MLAs of BJP presented before the Governor and withdrew the support to the coalition Government ______*This Synopsis is not an authoritative record of the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha.

92 on 6th October, 2007. Thereafter, the Chief Minister met the Governor and submitted his resignation on 8th October, 2007. The Governor, recommended invoking the President's rule in the State of Karnataka and the President's rule was proclaimed on 9th October, 2007 in the State of Karnataka under article 356 (1) of the Constitution keeping the Legislative Assembly under suspended animation. On 29th October, 2007, the JD(S)-BJP combine submitted 129 letters of individual support to the Governor -- 79 BJP, 41 JD(S), 3 JD(U) and 6 Independents -- and also signed in the register at Raj Bhawan. Later on the JD(S) President and former Prime Minister, Shri H. D. Devegowda wrote to the Prime Minister suggesting dissolution of the House. He also imposed certain conditions for the coalition The Governor concluded that in spite of his reservations about stability, the President may consider offering an opportunity to Shri B. S. Yeddyurappa to form the Government and revoke the Presidential proclamation. Accordingly, the Union Government revoked the President's Rule in the State of Karnataka on 12th November, 2007 and Shri B. S. Yeddyurappa took oath on 12th November, 2007. Prior to the vote of confidence on 19th November, 2007, the JD(S) reportedly issued a whip to JD(S) legislators to vote against the confidence motion. Shri B. S. Yeddyurappa tendered his resignation and the confidence motion failed. The Governor, therefore, recommended that President's Rule under article 356(1) of the Constitution of may be imposed with immediate effect after dissolving/suspending the Legislative Assembly of the State of Karnataka. The Union Government considered the report of the Governor and proclaimed President's Rule in the State. With these words, I commend that the Proclaimation issued on 20th November, 2007, under article

93 356(1) of the Constitution in relation to the State of Karnataka be approved by this august House. SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU: I agree with the contention of the Government that in the present situation that there is no possibility of any stable or meaningful Government to be formed in the State of Karnataka. The only way is to go in for fresh elections in the State. In 2004, when elections were held to the Karnataka Assembly, the Congress was in a comfortable majority in the State. We were the opposition party. Our strength got increased. But, at the same time, the people of Karnataka did not give the full mandate to any political party. The BJP emerged as the largest single party. I would like to draw the attention of the House that both BJP and JD(S) contested elections against the Congress party. Ruling party lost the mandate. What I am trying to say is, people had rejected them in 2004. That is my first point. My second point is, after that, whatever may be the reasons, Congress party and JD(S) came together and formed a Government. We thought, people normally did not favour frequent elections and MLAs too were not willing to face elections at that time. That was the mood at that time. Keeping that in mind, the BJP extended support to JD(S) to form a Government under its leadership. We presented the Common Minimum Programme before the people and we came to an understanding that the Government's first turn of 20 months would be headed by JD(S) and the next turn would be headed by the . Afterwards when 20 months were completed, we expected JD(S) to honour its public commitment which was given to the people, to support the BJP Chief Minister. They had gone back on their word and they were delaying it, and then we decided that we should not be part of that Government which did not honour the agreement. Accordingly, we have communicated the same to the hon.

94 Governor. We started a Dharma Yatra also. We were approaching the people. The certain JD (S) leaders have been invited to Delhi to hold talks to form an alternative Government. They were rejected at the first instance; secondly, they manoeuvred the mandate; thirdly, they failed and fourthly, they tried to form the Government in the State of Karnataka. I would like to make three things clear. First thing to ask them is: Is your National President in agreement with this? The answer was, 'yes'. Second, what is the basis of forming the Government again? Third thing, I asked, what about the so-called reports appearing in the Press? They said, "No conditions, it is an unconditional support" We have decided that we should step in and accept this offer and then form the Government. On 27th, we approached the hon. Governor and we informed him "both BJP and JD (S) are coming together without any conditions." We requested the Governor to invite Shri B.S Yeddurapa. Secondly, on 29th, within two days of this, as we were sensing, certain developments were taking place at the national level and the manoeuvring of Congress Party still continuing, we went to Governor. All the supporting MLAs met the hon. Governor and also presented themselves and filed affidavits signed individually by each MLA before the hon. Governor to convince him. We requested the Government that Shri Yeddurapa should be invited to form the Government. Secondly, we are compelled to come to Delhi and meet the hon. Prime Minister and then, brief him about what are the things that are happening and told him. When you have an opportunity to form an alternative Government, no problem, but, when others have an opportunity to have an alternative Government as per the original mandate of the people then you come in the way and demand dissolution of the House. We are compelled to get all the legislators to Delhi and took the time from hon.

95 Rashtrapathiji. We requested the to intervene in the matter. My point is, why this delay? Have you understood the spirit of hon. Supreme Court in the Bihar State Assembly dissolution case? It is the Congress party in its high command which was manoeuvring politics of Karnataka through backdoor methods. The Governor has to be satisfied about the numbers, that they have majority. That is the judgement. The third point I would like to draw the attention of this House is, as per the earlier record, in Goa, after dismissing, time had been given for a minority Government to prove its majority by manipulation. In , that was the same thing. Why is this opportunistic stand? Is it not the duty of the Central Government to explain to the people of the country? That is why I am raising this question. How many times they are meeting? In the State, at least, there is an alternative. You can keep the Assembly in a Suspended Animation. Is it the way to run a Government? Then, you are trying to preach morals to us; teach us how to run a Government, saying that you don't have a stable Government, and you don't have a right to comment. Once again, I am stressing upon the point that I had got more seats than you. You have been in power for so many years. Your leader has been defeated. We sat in Opposition for forty-five years. We did not do this sort of compromise in Sarkar and hara-kiri, the way in which it was happening. I am happy that my friend, Narayanasamy, because he is swami, he wants Ram Mandir. We will move in that direction. The Common Civil Code also was not proposed by the BJP. It was proposed by the founding fathers of our Constitution. But you have your Government, now. Narayanasamyji, have you been able to implement your agenda, in this Government? No, you can't, because you don't have the

96 majority. Now, everybody is heckling you. Your own Cabinet Minister is criticising. We had been in Opposition for 45 years. My point is, instead of condemning this opportunism, instead of joining together the people's mood of condemning the betrayal, my Congress friends are deriving a satisfaction, which is called a vicarious satisfaction. Since they have been known for maneuvering politics and backdoor entry, we stepped in, otherwise, we were willing for election. Nobody can teach or preach lessons to the Congress Party. They are above everything. What has happened in Karnataka is a mockery of democracy. The level of politics has gone down. People ridicule politicians, talk about our conduct and political parties behaviours, it pains you. Our friends should understand that these people who have ruled the country for years together, and ruined the country, and now, they are again trying to divide us, I am happy that wisdom has finally prevailed upon the Union Government. So, with all these experiences, if the Central Government today comes forward before this august House, and says that there is no other way than the dissolution, I am happy about it. You have enough experience; we also have enough experience, and people have experiences of both the sides. And the backdoor manoeuvring politics of Karnataka, Congress Party headed and supported by Central leadership are all important issues. And the third issue is that Karnataka deserves a better treatment. Karnataka is a progressive State. So, the people of Karnataka should have at the earliest an elected Government. Secondly, they appoint in haste advisers also. I am only talking about the misuse of the institution of the Governor. If you want to discuss the individual conduct of an individual Governor, then you need to have a substantive

97 motion. Neither Congress-JD(S) nor BJP-JD(S) has formed any alliance. In order to prevent the Congress Party from staging a backdoor entry once again, we have decided to take the support of JD(S) legitimately which we had given to them for twenty months. I am sure that the people of Karnataka will give a clear- cut verdict in favour of Bhartiya Janata Party. My point is, without loss of further time, they must approach the Election Commission and take steps. SHRI JANARDHANA POOJARY: The hon. Member from Karnataka, who was born and brought up in Andhra Pradesh, got elected twice from Karnataka. He has made several charges against the Congress Party with a lot of vehemence. In the 2004 elections, BJP got 79 seats with 28 per cent of the votes; the Congress got 65 seats with about 36 per cent of the votes and the JD(S) got 58 seats with 20 per cent of the votes. The people of Karnataka did not want their party to run the Government. The political situation in Karnataka is stinking. It is most unfortunate and that is why, I rose to speak with some anguish. The people there are disgusted by the dirty, opportunistic politics of the BJP and the Janata Dal, which have tarnished the fair name of Karnataka and caused irreparable damage to the reputation of the State. The Congress formed Government with JD(S) to keep the communal forces out. When the Government of Congress and JD(S) was running smoothly, some people from BJP hatched the conspiracy to topple the Government. It was to get the power. Then the Government was formed with BJP and it was decided that they would rule the State for twenty months for JD(S) and twenty months for BJP. During their rule they wanted to poison the minds of the people. Within a short span of two months, once, there was curfew for five days. Poor people could not go to work to earn their daily wages. That was

98 the situation. Now, they are putting the blame on the Congress, we have not withdrawn the support. JD(S) people did not withdraw the support first. You withdrew the support. Now, the question before the nation is whether there was any role of the Congress Party. You are responsible for your downfall. Everyday in the media, electronic media, people had been seeing these ugly, dirty activities of the politicians. People lost their confidence. These people gave the facts like this and went to the Governor asking him to revoke the proclamation. They asked the Governor to dissolve the Assembly and have President’s rule. An allegation was made against the High Command, Congress Party and against the Governor. We have to appreciate the Governor’s action. He did not act according to the Congress. The Congress wanted the dissolution, President’s Rule under Article 356. The Government was formed. But because of hunger for money, because of hunger for power, it did not last. Without any difficulty, they would have continued for another 20 months. They have not done it. When they withdrew the support, all the parties, including the Samajwadi Party, the Communist parties or the Left parties and BSP said that the Assembly should be dissolved. The BJP has put in writing that it should be dissolved. In a mandate given in Bommai case, it is stated that the Governor does not have the power to dissolve the Assembly. It is only with the Parliament. Only after the approval of Proclamation, it could be done. But the Governor stuck to that, which he cannot, under the rule of law. They were very happy. They should have thanked him. And, they should have thanked Sonia Gandhi. But they are criticising the Prime Minister, the Congress Party. But the Congress Party respects the Constitution . You played fraud with the Constitution. You are criticising him today on

99 the floor of the House and even outside, you are criticising. The people of Karnataka will not pardon you. You know the plight of the minorities during the twenty months’ rule. They are terrified. If we talk in favour of the minorities, against the atrocities committed on them, they dub us as anti Hindu. BJP people, are just shutting their eyes towards the minorities. It is the duty of the majority to give them protection. During Indirajis time, the Twenty-Point Programme was there. The had given loans at the rate of four per cent. We had written off loans also in cases where they deserved. The hon. Member made a serious charge against us saying that we are power hungry; we manoeuvred the things to come to power. But we did not make any claim to form the Government before the Governor. The PCC President of Karnataka made it clear that we want dissolution and we want to go before the people. Even the JD(S) supremo had written a letter to the Prime Minister of the country saying that they wanted to go in for elections. The Congress Government never aspired to form the Government. Our leader, Sonia Gandhi, had given up the Prime Ministership. She did not go after power. You must learn something from her. I congratulate the Home Minister, the Government of India and also our leader, Sonia Gandhi, for taking the right decision in these circumstances. SHRI BRIJ BHUSHAN TIWARI: About Karnataka, what charges were made by two hon’ble Members of Congress and BJP against each other, it was clear from that that the parties were power hungry. But the third one manoeuvred the things. He used congress as well as BJP. It has been said that Article 356 has mostly been misused. It is said that usually the Government in power at centre, under the pretext of Article 356, depose the Governments of other parties in States. The people who formulated the Constitution, they made our Federal

100 Structure. It was the duty of the Governor to maintain coordination between the State and Centre and also to ensure the compliance of all Sections of our Constitution. But the Congress Party made the Governor a protector to look after the interest of its party resulting in various irregularities. There should not be political opportunism. People start having negative approach towards such politics. If you want to form the Government, to have alliance, there should be a basic programme. When an approach of opportunism is adopted to grab the power, the stability of Government is not assured and that Government can not make any development for the people of the State. Keeping in view these present circumstances of Karnataka that no party is in a position to form the Government there and no party is in majority, there is no option except to dissolve the assembly. This type of opportunistic attitude of the politicians shatter the belief of the people in the Political Parties and their leaders. Congress has repeated this type of action many times since 1978. The coalition Government cannot be stable and they cannot develop the State and its people. SHRI PENUMALLI MADHU: The Communist Party of India (Marxist), support this Resolution. The BJP behaved opportunistically in the State of Karnataka. Its greed for power has very much been demonstrated there. First, they demanded dissolution of the Assembly and later on claimed for the Chief Ministership. But Yeddyurappa Government collapsed within seven days. The opportunistic role of Janata Dal also has eroded its credibility.

101 In the recent developments of Karnataka, they demonstrated greed for power and nothing else. They have no concern for the people's issues. I say, without going into the political content of the whole affair, only demagogic way of putting things will never help matters. So, my submission is, opportunistic role of BJP is very much demonstrated by its demanding dissolution of Assembly, demanding early elections and, then, again claiming formation of the Government. Opportunism and playing with communalism will not sustain for long. PROF. RAM DEO BHANDARY: In the Election held in Karnataka no party could get absolute majority. It was but natural that either re-election should be held or if there are two parties to form the government, their government should be formed and thus the Government was formed. Congress and Janta Dal after joining formed the Government and that government worked for about two years. The BJP was impatient to form its government in at least one of the southern States and on the other side Shri Kumarswami of JD (S) wanted an opportunity to become the Chief Minister. As a result of which an unholy alliance held between them according to which each had to run the government for 20 months. The dream of BJP was fulfilled for a week that a person belonging to them was made the Chief Minister of a State of South India but what happened in between is known to all of us that they could not get JD (S) Support and they had to resign. If the coalition government are formed on the basis of bargaining on the basis of conditions, on the basis of selfishness or on the basis of narrow political attitude those government can not run and that is what had happened in Karnataka because a kind of bargaining had taken place because there was no coordination in thinking. In such a situation there was no way out except the

102 President's Rule. All the Secular Parties should come together to defeat the Communal powers. I was merely saying that if the greed or ill-will are ahead in politics and the thinking principle is at the back then this situation is certain to take place whatever that State may be. So I support the proclamation made by his excellency the President for the President Rule and hope that his excellency the Governor will give a impartial and neat and clean administration. SHRI D. RAJA: One can understand the anger and frustration of the BJP. They had a dream to have their first Government in the South. Their dream stands shattered. A chance was given to BJP to form a Government but it failed to prove its majority on the floor of the House. We are opposed to the dismissal of any popular-elected Government which enjoys a majority. Now I think, what has happened is good for the people of Karnataka. Their interest must be protected, and democracy will have to be upheld. When political parties fail to find a solution ultimately, it is the people who provide the solution. SHRIMATI PREMA CARIAPPA: I support the resolution and the proclamation issued by the President under article 356. Unfortunately, in 2004 elections, no single party got the majority and the Congress Party was forced to form the Government with the JD(S). The people of Karnataka felt that the JD(S) not only toppled the democratically-elected Congress Party, but also betrayed the people of Karnataka. JD(S) and BJP had reached an agreement to form the Government for 20-20 months. So, Mr. Kumaraswamy became the Chief Minister for the first 20 months. After that, ultimately BJP formed the Government in Karnataka with JD(S). The new Chief Minister Shri Yedurappa had a Press Conference and told the people of Karnataka that they are going to give a Ram Rajya in Karnataka. What happened? Next day in the morning, they went to the

103 House to show the strength on the floor of the House. The Chief Minister, instead of showing the strength on the floor of the House, declared that he was rushing to the Governor to tender his resignation. I support dissolution of the Assembly in Karnataka and imposition of the President's rule in Karnataka. DR. ABHISHEK MANU SINGHVI: I rise to speak on the subject on which several Members have spoken earlier. This is a sordid saga of corruption, mismanagement, opportunism, hypocrisy, unholy alliances, and, of course, above all, loot of the State. It is a victory of democracy that we will go to the polls. They became an ostrich in the sand because they could not stay without power and their greed for power drove them into the so- called alliance. What did the Congress-led UPA Government do? Article 356, of course, was made by our Constitution-framers to provide for a failure of constitutional machinery. Failure of constitutional machinery, also includes gross extreme forms of misgovernance. There was nothing short of loot of the State going on. SHRI K.B. SHANAPPA: After 2004 the Governments formed there, it was the first Congress Government which was formed. Whether it was not opportunism? We gave a good government. With Deputy Chief Minister and Chief Minister from our party, we have done a wonderful job there. Let us go to the elections, then we will talk about the democracy. The Minister of Home Affairs (SHRI SHIVRAJ. V. PATIL): Almost all Members have said that the proclamation should be ratified. Some Members have gone to the extent of saying that the House should be dissolved. In view of these statements, I request that the Resolution may be put to vote and pass. ( The Resolution was adopted)

104 STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER Violence by All Adivashi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) on 24th November, 2007 THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI SHRIPRAKASH JAISWAL): I rise, with a deep sense of anguish, to inform this august House of the violence which took place in Guwahati on 24th Nov, 2007. The Government of Assam has informed that :- All Adivashi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) had applied to District Magistrate, Guwahati on 6-11-07 for holding a Gana Samabesh (rally) on 24-11-07 at Guwahati in the South Beltola School field to press for their demand of declaring the Adivashis in Assam as Scheduled Tribes (Plains). No permission was granted to the Association for holding the rally. However, the people brought by AASAA started gathering in the field of South Beltola High School from the morning of 24- 11-07. About 3000 to 3500 people gathered at the site by 11.30 AM. Most of the people came from the districts of Kokrajhar, Karbi Anglong, Darrang, Udalguri, Golaghat etc., in about 50- 60 buses. After gathering they wanted to take out a procession to the Dispur Capital complex. They were not given permission by the Magistrate on duty to take out the procession. But, about 1000-1500 persons broke away forcefully by overpowering the Police pickets at around 12.00 noon and entered the Bassistha Road leading to Dispur Capital complex from Beltola. On the way they reportedly indulged in vandalism and damage to shops and cars by pelting stones and using the lathis, bows and arrows, which they were carrying with them.

105 More than 50 vehicles and 30 shops are said to have been damaged in the process. When the processionists reached near the entrance to the MLA's Hostel, the Police party dispersed them by mild lathi charge and fired tear gas shells. On being dispersed, the processionists ran in different directions and entered different byelanes in the area in addition to the main Basistha road. While they were dispersing the persons affected by the violence, these people retaliated and attacked them. As a result, number of processionists and agitationists were injured. The situation was brought under control by 1.00 p.m. on 24th Nov, 2007, with the arrival of additional police force.

All the injured persons were shifted to Guwahati Medical College Hospital and Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Civil Hospital. The total number of persons injured is 242, out of which, 10 persons have been injured seriously. One person succumbed to his injury in the Hospital in the evening. The identity of the dead person is yet to be ascertained. Fifty-seven persons have been discharged and sent back to their respective districts on 25-11-07. All steps are being taken to give free medical treatment. It is expected that all the remaining persons other than the ten seriously injured persons will be discharged and sent to their respective home districts by 26-11-07 forenoon.

The District Magistrate imposed curfew, as a precautionary measure, from 2.25 p.m. on 24-11-07, which had been relaxed for 12 hours from 8.00 a.m. on 25-11-07. The curfew has been withdrawn from 8.00 p.m. on 25th November, 2007. On 24th November, 2007, after the incident, about 2000 persons, who were in the meeting ground, were safely sent back to their districts with police escort in the evening in the vehicles brought by them. About 900 people were rescued from different roads and byelanes and they were taken to Basistha Thana and

106 sent to their respective home districts by 25th November morning under police escort.

The State Government has already announced ex-gratia of Rs. 3 lakhs to the next of kin of the person killed and Rs 50,000/- to the persons seriously injured and Rs 10,000/- to the persons with simple injury. An enquiry by Shri P.P. Verma, Additional Chief Secretary, has been ordered. The situation at present is peaceful and under watch. The AASAA has given a call for 36 hours Assam bandh from 5.00 a.m. of 26-11-07 to 5.00 p.m. of 27-11-07. There has been a demand for giving Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Tea and ex-tea garden communities comprising Munda, Oran, Gonds, Santhals etc., from Bihar, Orissa, etc. This has been examined several times by the office of RGI. The Lokur Committee had also considered this issue in 1965, and had noted that they agreed with the opinion of the Backward Classes Commission and did not recommend the tea plantation labourers to be treated as STs. The settlers in the tea estates have tended to lose their tribal characteristics in the new surroundings. Moreover, the office of RGI noted that many of the tea tribe communities were not STs even in their native States i.e. Basor, Bhattar, Basphoor, Bhagta, Tandoi, etc were SC in the native states while Bhamij, Beha, etc. were listed as SC/ST in different states of origin. Based on these considerations and the observations of the Lokur committee, as well as the Backward Classes Commission, RGI has not supported the proposal of the State Govt for inclusion of tea tribes in the list of STs in Assam. The Government of Assam had also initially consistently opposed giving them the ST status.

107 A close watch is being kept on the situation. The senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs are in constant touch with the Chief Secretary and DGP of the State. ______SERIAL BOMB BLASTS IN UTTAR PRADESH ON 23RD NOVEMBER, 2007 - (Contd.)

The Minister of Home Affairs (SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL), replying to the queries made by the Members, said : One of the Hon'ble Members has said here that people behave with wisdom. Some people want to create dispute, but people present there understand it and do not allow any dispute to take place. This is a good thing.

It is essential work together for the people, the Central Government, the State Government, the Police, the Intelligence Agency, the State Police, the State Intelligence Agency. Until this happens, we cannot control this kind of incidents

In a large country like ours, while the Central Government have their responsibilities, the State Governments have their responsibilities as well. It is very difficult to state on the basis of an incident, whether the law and order situation in a particular state is improving or it is deteriorating. I would like to state that today, we are spending a lot of money on development but in that ratio we are not spending funds on our security. We have to tackle this problem with the help of new technology. I am very happy to inform you that we discussed this matter in the Chief Minister's Conference and some of the Chief Minister were agreed to spend more funds on security.

108 In order to formulate a long term policy on security, it is necessary that more budget allocation should be made on policing in States. Since the previous Government as well as the present Central Government increased the budget allocation on policing, now we are raising about 300 more Battalions of Central Police Forces. We have also provided more funds for their modernization.

As regards intelligence, we assume intelligence means I.B, which is not correct. There are so many intelligence agencies such as Defence Intelligence Agency, RAW and I.B in our country. Further, there are Special Branches of Police or CID in each of the States as well. We have not given much importance on the activities of CID or Special Branches as required. We need actionable intelligence to comprehend about place and time of attack and for that we have to strengthen our State Intelligence Departments or Special Branches in States. Since our police-population ratio is very adverse, therefore, we have to increase member of police personnels. Some new trends such as cyber-crimes have also emerged. In order to investigate cyber-crimes, we have to provide adequate training to our police personnels and police officers. We have to undertake research and development in cyber-crimes.

The concept of Federal Investigating Agency should be accepted. When we discuss these issues with the people and the State Governments, they take the stand that these are the jurisdiction of the State Governments. The Centre should not interfere into it. But the Centre have to reply here in the House. We can not send any investigating agency without State Government’s or Court’s order. This concept of Federal Crime or Federal Investigating Agency has come forth. We will have to find some ways. I request the respected members to consider

109 this. There are some constraints under which the Governments have to function. We have the Constitution. We follow the rule of law. Now, having functioned in the last sixty years, if something have come to our notice, let us consider them in the House and outside and let us try to find a solution to them.

I am very pained to say that so many Policemen are dying while protecting the life and property of our people. Terrorism has become a phenomenon which is visible everywhere in the world. If you just blame one Government or the other on party-lines it is not going to help. We would like to find out actually where we are committing mistakes and, what is to be done by us. And, then, we will find solutions. If a full-fledged discussion on security is allowed, I will give the statistics about the crime report in other countries, about terrorist incidents happening in different States, about security personnel having been killed and about civilians that have been killed.

Specific information will be laid in the House later on. POTA is not required. As per law, State subject cannot be discussed in the Parliament but if ordered by the Speaker or the Chairman we will also discuss these issues in this House. Centre is ready to impart training to anti-terrorist squads raised by the states. But for each and every incident CRPF cannot be sent. Apart from specific duties we are left with only fifty thousand CRPF personnel to cater to the needs of the whole country. Even states do not willingly return these personnel.

Our political strategy to fight the terrorism is to improve the socio-economic conditions of the country. Economic disputes can be discussed and solved but fundamentalist or secessionist terrorism cannot be discussed. Islam is not terrorism. Terrorists do not belong to any one religion. So, we do not want

110 to label anybody as Islamic terrorists. The Centre provides funds to the States to raise their own police force. All these components make our political strategy.

V. K. AGNIHOTRI, Secretary-General. [email protected]

111