Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

normalcy were restored within a couple of days. However, opportunistic
politicians had been misusing the situation even after the normalcy was restored.
Disharmony and disunity gets accentuated by perception of differential
treatment. It is necessary that in a federal set up Central Government by it
action demonstrate its impartiality and fairness while dealing with state
governments led by various shades of political allegiance. I can not but express
my regrets that some recent actions of the central government have been seen
to be partisan not conducive in promoting national integration. There have
been serious communal and terrorist activities in other States such as Jammu
and Kashmir, Assam, Tripura, NCT of Delhi and Andhra Pradesh, the Union
Government was not so active in sending advisory notes, at times touted as
notices (under Article 355) to the States. According to our considered opinion,
there was no need to rush a central team to Karnataka and for those officers to
speak to the press before even submitting a report to the Union Home Ministry;
especially, when a judical enquiry had already been ordered. It
was very unfortunate that our State was targeted for political vendetta by
ministers and official of the Government of India.
India is a Federation of States. The States have their own place in the
Constitution of India. The Union Government is expected to respect the
autonomy and authority of the States and treat all the States on equal footing
irrespective of the political parties in power. Only then, can the federal
structure as envisaged in the Constitution of India will survive and succeed.
On our part, Karnataka State has taken several proactive steps towards
providing national integration. Some of them are:
a) Formation of Integration Council at state level, district level, and taluk/
tehsil level.
b) Reaching out to all common people irrespective of caste or creed or
community in our weekly Janaspandana meetings at Hobli (below taluk)
level, to receive and resolve complaints.
c) Provided additional amount of Rs.25 crore for modernizing the police for
this year.
d) Ensuring that the Peace Committees hold regular consultations with the
leaders of different communities and organizations.
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