Probe Likely On Corporate Funding Of Militancy

The United Front government is likely to initiate an inquiry into the alleged funding of militants in the north-eastern states by business houses. Reports about the the Assam government proceeding against Tata Tea Limited for allegedly funding expenses of ULFA functionaries have prompted a move to initiate a throrough probe.

The Tata Tea issue was raised at a meeting of United Fronts core group yesterday by Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. He presented a detailed list of corporate houses, including Tata Tea, funding militant groups in Assam for narrow purposes.

A senior Front leader said there was a possibility that income tax authorities would be asked to probe payments by the business houses as a first step.

The United Front steering committee decided in principal yesterday evening that the quantum of foodgrains given through the TPDS must be increased. The exact amount of increase was not decided, as the government was working out financial implications of a higher allocation and also availability of foodstocks.

The core group agreed that all assistance should be extended to state governments to fight militancy. At the meeting, Mahanta pleaded for Central assistance to modernise states police.

The state government was handicapped for want of resources to fight the better equipped militant groups.

The issue figured at the meeting of the United Front steering committee also. UF spokesman S Jaipal Reddy told newsmen that since the insurgency problem in north-east was a national issue all political parties should come together and fight against it.

Later on, Mahanta held a meeting with Prime Minister IK Gujral and Union home minister Indrajit Gupta.

Mahanta alleged at the core group meeting that both the Congress and the BJP were not cooperating with the state government in the fight against militants. He recalled an agreement at an all-party meeting in the state that political parties would hold mass rallies at all districts headquarters and the state capital. However, the BJP and the Congress backed out of the programme later, he said.

The core group also discussed the developments in Jammu and Kashmir and reiterated that in no way should India accept third party mediation in Indo-Pakistan talks on the issue.

Prime Minister IK Gujral can discuss many issues with US president Bill Clinton when they meet later this month. But why should they discuss the Kashmir issue, a senior Front leader said.

The issue of targeted public distribution system (TPDS) did not figure at the core group meeting, as United Front convenor N Chandrababu Naidu had to rush to Vishakhapatnam in view of the blaze at the HPCL plant.

Reddy said various options were discussed at the meeting of the six-member United Front panel on Sunday. But he refused to divulge the details of the meeting. Any decision on the issue would be taken only at the next steering committee meeting, he added. The next meeting is expected only first week of October.

The steering committee also congratulated the government for the bold, though belated, decision to make the seven-year old Prasar Bharati Act.