Left wing extremism has no place in a democracy, Jharkhand Governor M O H Farooq said here on Sunday and asked Maoists operating in the State to shun violence and return to the mainstream.
Unfurling the tricolour here on the 64th Independence day, Mr. Farooq asked all the six extremist outfits, including the proscribed CPI(ML), in the State to participate in building a peaceful and prosperous Jharkhand, which is now under President’s rule.
He said the Maoists were the biggest challenge to the law and order as well as development front and police have been instructed to curb the menace.
“To achieve this, the police force is being modernised and provided with the needed manpower equipment and training.
“My government will leave no stone unturned to take development to the remotest affected areas so that the naxals have no occasion to mislead and attract our youths to their fold,” the governor said.
Corruption was another major hindrance in development and a sustained drive has been launched to send a message “loud and clear that no matter how high and mighty a person might be, the law is above him.”
Appointments to public services, illegal mining and coal smuggling were some of the areas where the anti-corruption drive was on, he said.
He said 13,500 primary teachers, 4,400 Urdu teachers, 6,500 constables, 5000 other personnel would be recruited for various government departments within the next six months and promised to conduct panchayat elections, last held in 1977, “at the earliest.”
He said 16 of the 24 districts have been declared as drought-hit and the situation was being monitored on a daily basis and assured farmers steps to mitigate their problems.
Listing the achievements of his government in the 75 days of President’s rule, Mr. Farooq said top most priority was given to provide an efficient, proactive, responsive and transparent administration and to create an environment conducive to all round development.
