‘Security tops state’s agenda’

Tackling security concerns such as terrorism and the Naxalites was topmost on the government’s list of priorities, Governor K. Sankaranarayanan said on Thursday.

Tackling security concerns such as terrorism and the Naxalites was topmost on the government’s list of priorities, Governor K. Sankaranarayanan said on Thursday.

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Sankaranarayanan said this during his joint address to both the Houses of the state Legislature on Thursday. The governor’s address is considered to be a statement of the state government’s policies.

Sankaranarayanan listed measures the government has taken to tackle terrorism and the Naxalite menace.

“A comprehensive package has been prepared and is being rigorously implemented for this. This will definitely enhance efficiency and effectiveness of the (police) force,” Sankaranarayanan said.

The governor referred to the February 13 bomb blast in Pune in the beginning, but did not talk about the investigation. He said that the people acted with courage and helped the government machinery keep the situation under control.

Sankaranarayanan said the government was committed to making Mumbai a city of international standards in a planned and time-bound way.

He talked about the Metro and Monorail projects and the Mumbai Urban Transport Project, but did not mention the Mumbai trans-harbour link, which courted a political controversy after two infrastructure agencies were vying for the contract to construct it.

The Opposition disturbed the speech raising slogans against the price hike, grants for grain-based alcohol industry and the agrarian crisis.

The governor defended the state saying it was successful in bringing relief to farmers in distress because of drought in 221 talukas.