LUCKNOW: The chief minister, Kalyan Singh, said in the UP Vidian Sabha that the state was not given adequate Central financial and arms assistance to deal effectively with in the sprawling Terai region.
Presenting the budgetary grants of home and general administration departments, the chief minister claimed credit for bringing the law and order situation under control. There were fewer communal riots during the last 11 months compared to earlier years,
His one-and-a-half hour speech was marked from the opposition members who accused the BJP government of misusing the police to settle scores with its political opponents. Though the chief minister refuted the allegation, Beni Prasad Verma(SJP) and several others reiterated that the BJP had many criminals as members,
Alone stage, the chief minister raised his voice and said he would divulge details of crimes committed by opposition members. As the treasury bench members thumped their desks, Varma said while the government accused _ the opposition of giving protection to mafia dons, criminals even contested elections on the BJP symbol. The leader of the Congress, Pramod Tiwari, took exception to the chief minister revealing details about the states preparedness to deal with militants in the Terai area, The chief minister agreed but said he had to reveal certain things to show that the state government was not getting the required assistance from the Center.
The chief minister said the Terai region was a sprawling area and dense forests made combing operations difficult. While the Amy and security forces had been deployed in Punjab, the State government lacked even matching arms to deal with militants active in the Terai area, he added.
Amid frequent interruptions, the chief minister said “terrorism” was a national rather than an international problem. “Terrorism” in the state would not end by seeking the resignation of the present government. The problem could be tackled by the cooperation of all political parties and necessary assistance from the Center, he added.
Referring to Tiwaris assertion parties leaders had been convened so far to devise ways and means to curb “terrorists” activities in the state the chief minister said this would be done soon,
The opposition members resorted to shouting when the chief minister said his government had succeeded in making the state free from riots, They alleged that this was only because those who had instigated riots earlier were now in power in the state.
Earlier, the Speaker, Kesari Nath Tripathi, had to adjourn the House when Lok Dal (A) and SJP members stormed into the well of the House.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 22, 1992
