Centre doing all to curb Maoism, terrorism: Rajnath
Kolkata, Oct 1: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the Centre is taking steps to curb all possible national security threats, including Maoism and terrorism, and assured the states of Central forces' help whenever they require.
"Be it Maoism, terrorism or extremism -- all sorts of security threats are being adequately dealt with. We are doing whatever is necessary to curb any potential security threat and will continue to do so," Singh said after a meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council here.
Responding to a question on withdrawal of central forces from various states, the Minister said the Central government had certain compulsions to redeploy forces under circumstances such as elections, but said the states would get adequate forces whenever required.
"I agree that the states need Central forces. However, the central government also has certain compulsions. When elections are held in a certain state, we have to send Central forces there. So, the forces have to be withdrawn from somewhere for further redeployment," Singh said.
"However, it is not that the Centre will not provide required forces to the states. We will send additional Central forces as and when these are required," he said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier criticised Centre's proposal to withdraw at least three companies of paramilitary forces from Bengal's Left-wing extremism infested Junglemahal area, comprising Purulia, Jhargram, West Midnapore and Bankura districts and redeploy them in critical areas of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
The Bengal government had also written to the Union Home Ministry opposing the move.
Singh, who arrived here on Sunday, attended the meeting along with the West Bengal and Jharkhand chief ministers. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, Odisha Finance Minister Shashi Bhusan Behera and senior officials of the Centre and state governments were present.
"The meeting has been successful since 26 of the 30 issues discussed were resolved," he added.
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Will vacate one of two assembly seats won in 10 days: BJP''s Suvendu
Kolkata (PTI): BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur and secured Nandigram for three times in a row in the recent assembly polls, said on Wednesday that he would vacate one of the two constituencies within 10 days.
Adhikari also asserted that the party's central leadership would decide which constituency he would retain.
"I will vacate one seat within 10 days. The party will decide which one I retain. I will not forget my responsibility towards the people of Bhabanipur and Nandigram," he said.
Adhikari on Monday defeated Banerjee in Bhabanipur by over 15,000 votes, puncturing what was long seen as her safest political refuge and delivering a decisive psychological blow to the TMC, amid a sweeping BJP surge across West Bengal.
Addressing party workers and supporters in Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district, the BJP leader appealed to them not to take out victory processions immediately and instead maintain peace.
"Do not take out victory rallies now. Maintain peace and discipline. Celebrate after May 9, after taking permission," he told party workers.
State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya on Wednesday announced that the oath-taking ceremony of the new government will be held on May 9 at Brigade Parade Ground.
Referring to alleged attacks on BJP workers during the TMC regime, Adhikari said he would not forget the “atrocities" faced by them and assured them of taking appropriate action against perpetrators through legal processes.
"I was part of the 2011 ‘poribartan’ (change), and now I am part of the real change. I offer my gratitude to the people of Nandigram," Adhikari said.
He was referring to the TMC's victory in 2011 when the Mamata Banerjee party dismantled the 34-year Left Front regime in the state.
Adhikari offered prayers at a Hanuman statue in Nandigram and remembered the BJP workers, who had died in political violence.
"We will work in such a way that the BJP government in Bengal stays for 100 years," he said, expressing hope that the BJP’s vote share in the state would rise from the current 46 per cent to 60 per cent in future elections.
The BJP leader also assured residents of Nandigram of improved drinking water supply and better hospital and education infrastructure.
