Hyderabad, November 15: The Chief Minister, Mr K Rosaiah, on Monday urged the Defence authorities to conduct more recruitment rallies in the Naxal-prone and backward districts in the State to wean the youth away from anti-social and extremist activities.
Inaugurating the Civil Millenary Liaison Conference-2010 at Jubilee Hall here, Mr Rosaiah expressed happiness over the conduct of military recruitment programme in Karimnagar and Warangal districts this year. He said that the State government was prepared to provide logistic support to the military recruitment rallies if they were held in the Naxal-affected and backward districts in the State, he added.
The Chief Minister thanked the Army authorities for their unstinted contribution in providing assistance to the State government in maintaining internal security, law and order at times of need and during natural calamities. He also pointed out to the positive and timely assistance extended by the Army during the devastating loods in Kurnool and Mahbubnagar last year and whenever the State government sought help. The State government enjoyed cordial relations with Andhra Sub Area Headquarters which always responded positively when the State government interacted with them on various issues in the past, he added. “We look forward to your continued support and help”, he maintained.
Reminding that the his government had taken up a number of welfare schemes for the uplift of the poor in the field of employment, education, self employment schemes, land allotment and so on, the Chief Minister pointed out that the State government has recently enhanced ex-gratia to the dependents of military personnel who were killed in action and disabled. He also assured that his government has highest regard for the retired service personnel in the State. He exuded confidence that the conference would result in enhanced mutual understanding and cooperation between civil administration and the Armed forces that helped resolve most of the long-pending issues.
The General-Officer-Commanding of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala Area and Lt Gen. B K Chengappa, said that Andhra Pradesh was one of the most progressive States in the country that achieved outstanding results in the field of agricultural production, industrial growth and Information Technology. It also succeeded in neutralizing left wing extremism and remained a model for emulation by other States, he opined.
Lt. Gen. Chengappa pointed out that the Army has a large number of training establishments and field formation units in the State, largely concentrated in Secunderabad and Hyderabad Cantonments. Similarly, the Air Force and Navy also have a number of training and operational units stationed in Andhra Pradesh, he added. The Defence forces stationed at different places in the State were providing inherent security, contributing to economy, promoting ecological preservation and adding to the multi-cultural diversity of the State. The State was also home to a large number of serving and retired defence services personnel. Andhra Pradesh was a major contributor of manpower to the Armed forces.
He observed that internal security environment in the country has changed adversely during the last decade with a number of threats including left wing extremism, terrorism aided by external and internal agencies inimical to the nation, organized crime and smuggling activities simultaneously in various parts of the country. “It is inheriting that the State Government has been proactive in keeping the internal security situation under control for the last several years”, he appreciated.
He also felt that the security of defence establishments in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad assumed greater importance consequent to revelation made by those interrogated by Intelligence agencies in the case of 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. “We have initiated measures to thwart any hostile action against our assets but look forward to timely inputs from State Intelligence agencies of emerging threats to defence establishments in the state”, he opined.
——–NSS