Taking exception to the BJP’s plans to organise a protest on the first day of the winter session at the Suvarna Soudha here on December 9 and the statements by national vice-president B.S. Yeddyurappa in that regard, Home Minister K.J. George on Saturday warned that the government would take stern action if anybody attempted to disturb peace, harmony and law and order.
Addressing presspersons after discussing security arrangements at the Suvarna Soudha during the winter session, which will be on till December 20, he said the government would allow peaceful protests but would not tolerate any attempts to disturb law and order.
He said the CID investigation into the death of the 14-year-old girl at Tirthahalli was in the last stages and the facts would be revealed soon. The investigation team was awaiting medical report, necessary to establish the truth, he said. In response to the BJP’s statements against his functioning as the Home Minister, and that sexual assaults on women and children were on the rise in the State, Mr. George said the BJP should look at its own camp and think about why some of its Ministers were arrested and stepped down.
Fast-track courts He said that incidence of sexual assaults against women was less compared with several other States in the country. The government had decided to set up three fast-track courts to deliver justice expeditiously, two of which would be at Bengaluru. The location of the third court would be decided after consulting the Law Minister, he said.
He advised the BJP not to interfere in the Congress’s internal affairs such as expansion of the Council of the Ministers.
‘Vacancies being filled’
The Home Minister said against the existing vacancy of nearly 22,000 posts in the Police Department, measures had been taken to fill 8,500 posts of constable and 190 posts of sub-inspector. Meanwhile, the department had availed itself of services of 7,000 Home Guards as it would take more than a year for the new recruits to join duty after selection and training.
To a question on the statements by Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti leader Sambhaji Patil, MLA (Belagavi South), against the State government, Mr. George said he was looking into the matter.