Reiterating its resolve to fight anti-national forces, the UP government said that no module of Al-Qaeda was operating in the state. It clarified that it was in touch with Central agencies, including the NIA, on terrorist outfits and their activitiies in the state.
“The issue is very sensitive and hence no politics should be done on this issue. There is no specific input about the terrorist activity in the state, including that of Al Qaeda or any of its ilk,” informed Parliamentary Affairs minister Azam Khan in the Assembly on Monday.
He said that everyone should condemn terror acts. “Terrorism has no religion. Yet, it is unfortunate that a community is being singled out in the name of terrorism. Muslims have suffered due to the partition once and any further act would create another rift in the country,” said Khan. “We want UP to be a safe place for the people to live in. The government is doing everything for ensuring safety of the masses. We are co-operating with the Central agencies and are meeting them regularly,” the minister said.
However Shyamdeo Rai Choudhury (BJP) said that the matter is serious and the state government should take it seriously. “UP has always been a soft target for terror outfits. Even, the Central agencies have warned the state of the existence of sleeping modules,” he pointed out. Congress member Akhilesh Pratap Singh too sought to know from the government whether the Centre has warned the state about the growing activity of SIMI and ISI in the state. leader of the Opposition, Swami Prasad Maurya also expressed concern on the rising act of terror acts in the state and asked the government to be more sensitive on the matter.
Nutrition Programme:
Social Welfare minister Ram Govind Chaudhary said that nutrition programmes for children would not be stopped as it has increased enrolment of students and made children healthy. “The programme is being implemented on the orders of the Supreme Court and it will continue,” he said.
During Question Hour, Rashtriya lok Dal (RlD) leader Dalbir Singh said that the government should scrap the nutrition programme as it was not yielding any benefit. “The money spent on the programme is going waste as the Child Mortality Rate (CMR) has not dipped. Instead it has increased corruption,” he said.
Suresh Rana (BJP) too, alleged that after spending several thousand crore of rupees on distribution of nutritious food, the CMR of the state is the highest in India. He demanded that the entire scheme be reviewed.
Widow pension:
Answering to another question of Anugurah Narain Singh (Congress), Dr Arun Kumar (BJP) and Ravidas Mehrota (Samajwadi Party,) Women and Children Welfare minister Shadab Fatima said that the government was seriously considering to hike the widow pension. “Presently, the helpless and poor widows are getting Rs 300 per month as pension which could be increased,” she said.