Naxalism is losing ground: Rajnath Singh
Ambikapur, May 21: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that Naxalism is shrinking and losing ground although it still poses a challenge.
Singh, who was inspecting the passing out parade of the 261 Bastariya Battalion here in Chhattisgarh, also said that the casualties among security forces had gone down by almost 55 per cent.
"Naxalism is a challenge but I want to say that this menace is now shrinking and is losing ground," he said.
Singh said that Maoists do not want development as they know that if development takes place, "their sinister plan will never succeed".
"Many (Maoist) leaders have made a lot of money through illegal activities. Our government will unearth this ill-gotten wealth.
"We have decided that all those Left Wing Extremist leaders who have earned money by using poor people and manipulating their innocence will be punished," Singh said.
Congratulating the CRPF and the state police for controlling the geographical expanse of Maoists by 40 to 45 per cent, he said: "The success we have achieved in our fight in Chhattisgarh is due to good coordination between the state police and CRPF."
He told the CRPF troopers that "your family is our family. We will stand by you" at all times.
"The CRPF through its dedication, talent, courage and commitment has earned the great respect of the people of the country. Even in Kashmir along with the Army, they are fighting the terrorists with great courage and conviction.
"The constitution of Bastariya Battalion is a well-considered decision. We have relaxed the several norms to induct young men and women from Bastar region into this battalion.
"I want to tell the people of Chhattisgarh that their development is our top most priority and we will ensure all possible help that is needed to take the development of the state to new heights," he added.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
