THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday stressed that it was of paramount importance that the administrative-police machinery was further strengthened in view of the recent incidents of Left extremism in the state.
Chairing the South Zone Council meeting here, he said leftwing extremism had been assuming serious dimensions in certain parts of the country. Singh said all possible steps would be taken to preserve and strengthen the integrity and safety of the country from external and internal threats.
He exhorted the state governments to ensure better inter-state coordination and take up joint operations in common border areas.
The Home Minister also expressed happiness over the standing committee of the Southern Zonal Council meeting held a couple of months ago which had made the council’s task easier by sorting out many issues and making useful suggestions.
However, when mediapersons asked the Home Minister about the Centre’s move to issue an Ordinance to impose penalty on people possessing scrapped currency notes, Rajnath Singh said whatever decision taken was in the interest of the nation.
High-speed rail corridor
Later, briefing the media about the council meeting, Chief Secretary S M Vijayanand and Naini Jayaseelan, secretary, Inter-State Council Secretariat, said the Council reviewed the progress of implementation of various recommendations made in the last meeting relating to issues of fishermen, Peninsular Region Industrial Development Corridor, extension of High Speed Rail Corridor from Thiruvananthapuram to Mangaluru and Udupi, introduction of tourism trains and amendments to the New Road Transport and Road Safety Bill. Karnataka said it could bear the cost of the extension. The Railway Ministry would be approached for sharing the cost in this regard.
They said the council took up issues related to uniformity in allocation of funds for scholarships in proportion of population of SC/STs for all courses, revision of ceiling on profession tax by Government of India, Naxalism and promotion of oil seeds and oil seed cultivation. Out of the 22 items discussed on Wednesday, 16 were resolved in the meeting.