After Gehlaut, Karnataka CM won’t allow pub culture

A day after Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlaut announced he will eliminate pub-culture, Karnataka CM BS Yeddyurappa seemed toeing the Ram Sena line when he said he will not allow pub culture to grow in the state.
“It is a most unfortunate that this incident (assault of women in a Mangalore pub last week) happened but we will not allow pub culture to grow in Karnataka,” he said.
"Anyhow, we are not going to allow such incidents to happen again in the state. Nobody should take law into their hands and it is very unfortunate. That is why I have taken immediate action and the situation is under control," he added.
He also dithered on the issue of banning right-wing group Sri Rama Sene whose activists have been arrested for last Saturday's pub incident in Mangalore in which girls and boys were thrashed. "We will discuss it with the police officers and I will discuss it with the cabinet."
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who has accused the erswtwhile Vasundhara Raje BJP government of bringing in "liquor culture", said in Jaipur the move to end pub culture in the State had nothing to do with the Mangalore incident.
However, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit saw nothing wrong in boys and girls going out together to malls when asked to comment on Gehlot voicing reservations in this regard.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said he is against all "uncivilised behaviour."

Gehlot said, "my feelings have nothing to do with the Mangalore episode. My feelings are my own and in the interest of Rajasthan and its culture".

He had drawn flak for his comments that he wanted to end the culture of boys and girls roaming around in malls holding hands.

Assuring strong action against the culprits, BJP’s first Chief Minister in the south said that his party has no connection with the Sena.

"Sri Rama Sena has no connection with BJP or any other political party. It is an individual organisation," the Chief Minister said.

Disclosing that the state has so far arrested 33 people including Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik, Yeddyurappa said, "From the government's side, we have taken action and we will continue to take strong action against affiliations.

The culprits, he said, are currently booked under the charges of criminal conspiracy, rioting, and also added that the police is also mulling to slap Goonda Act on the Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik and his party members who were arrested in connection with the Mangalore pub attack earlier this week.

He further accused the opposition Congress party for fuelling the matter further as it could not “digest” the growing popularity of BJP govt in the state.

Stressing that the BJP has a track record in the welfare of women, he said that the police has been given full liberty to pursue action against the culprits.

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CMs meet to discuss strategy against terror

A meeting of Chief Ministers will be held in New Delhi on Tuesday for a 'focused discussion' on the issue of terrorism and evolve a strategy to improve intelligence sharing in a well coordinated manner.
"The whole idea is to have a focused discussion on terrorism and how the states and the Centre can join and share intelligence," Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta told reporters.
The meeting, to be addressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram, assumes significance as it is going to be held in the wake of Mumbai terror attack.
Noting that intelligence sharing alone can act as a preventive mechanism, Gupta said the day-long meeting will deliberate on what should be done at the state level and how best the Centre can assist the states in terms of money, manpower and weaponry.
He said the Centre was ready to increase the budget for police modernisation in states, but added that the central funds should be used more on priority needs like weaponry and special mobility requirements rather than police housing.
The Home Secretary said Tuesday's exercise will be followed by a meeting of chief ministers of seven states badly affected by the naxal violence, termed as the single biggest threat to internal security.
Need for increasing police strength, setting up of a specialised police force and the issue of improving coastal security will be discussed threadbare, he said.
Involvement of community to improve intelligence gathering and filling up of large number of vacancies in state police are likely to be suggested at the meeting.

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