NGOs deterrents to progress: Patil

While speaking on the Naxalite movement,Patil called for the Centre and the state governments to be open for “discussion” rather than just adopt an armed approach towards Naxals.

The Minister was in the city to launch Loksatta senior reporter Devendra Gawade’s book on Naxalites Naxalvadanche Avahan at S M Joshi Hall on Friday.

With the wide spread of Naxalites even in cities,Mumbai and Pune,it is necessary for a combined approach by the police,government and public to tackle the problem. Patil lauded Deepak Paigude for his approach to select 50 children from Gadchiroli and train them in a Pune school. “Such initiatives can help groom these children,’’ said Patil. While lauding Gawade’s detailed approach in his book,he also warned that the state and the centre should be on guard as Naxalite movement,though restricted to some pockets in the country,may gradually spread.

He urged government officials not to shy away from Gadchiroli postings whether in the education or the health sector. With the district being rich in natural reserves,it was scarred by the Naxalite movement and was low in human development index and there was a need to improve it. “It is just not the job of the police but also the government to take initiative,’’ he said.

Gawade touched upon several issues in these areas and urged the police,government and the politicians to address the issue. Loksatta editor Girish Kuber,who was the chief guest,also spoke extensively about the issue. “There is need to go indepth and address the core issue and there needs to be a proper approach from the government,police and politicians to address the issue.

‘Probe into FIR tampering’

Minister R R Patil on Friday said inquiry would be conducted in the issue of alleged tampering of first information report (FIR) filed by Pavan Gandhi Charity Trust against a technical education society. The trust had earlier filed a complaint at Paud police station alleging that society grabbed its land in Ambadvet in Mulshi using forged documents. As the land documents were allegedly made in Shivajinagar,the investigation was handed over to Shivajinagar police station. The FIR in this case was lodged on Wednesday. Trust director Ravindra Barate alleged that some important lines in the FIR were erased with a whitener as per the instructions of senior police officers.