New Delhi, August 02: The Centre has made it clear to all States that while paramilitary forces would be available for deployment, it could not be for an indefinite period. The State police force would have to take over the responsibility of maintaining law and order as soon as possible.
The Centre’s clarification came on the deployment of Central forces in Lalgarh at the request of the West Bengal government. Noting that the situation in Lalgarh had still not stabilised, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, at a press conference here, said the CPI (Maoist) “continues to have pockets of influence and is suspected to be behind some recent acts of violence.”
Tripartite talks
Expressing satisfaction that the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha heeded the advice of the Centre and the West Bengal government in withdrawing its agitation, he said the GJM had been invited for tripartite talks on August 11. “I hope that the talks will be held with an open mind and all avenues explored towards a resolution of the issues raised,” he said.
Replying to queries by journalists on incidents of political violence still being reported from West Bengal, Mr. Chidambaram said political parties should be political adversaries, but violence should not take place.
On the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), he said it was being amended and the government was looking at limiting the application of the legislation to some areas. He said the Centre would have to take a decision on restricting the application of the controversial Act in some areas. The Act is currently enforced in Jammu and Kashmir and some parts of the northeast.
“The AFSPA amendments are getting ready. I cannot disclose the nature of the amendments because that has to go through the Cabinet process.”
Mr. Chidambaram said the three-Minister Group, comprising Home, Law and Health Ministers, took note of the judgment of the Delhi High Court [decriminalising gay sex] in the case of Naz Foundation relating to Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and finalised its recommendation to the Cabinet.
–Agencies