Wednesday, February 16 2005 18:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) today (Feb 16, 2005) demanded a ban on naxal outfits and pressed for a Special Task Force (STF) operation against naxals in Karnataka, saying they were waging a war against the State.

Expressing concern over the entry of naxal violence in Karnataka with the killing of seven policemen in Tumkur district last week, BJP national general secretary Ananth Kumar told reporters in Bangalore that all States should also plan a joint action to curb the growth of naxal activities.

Saying that naxalite outfits never believed in the sovereignty of India and never accepted the Constitution and the democratic process, Kumar said their ideology would only lead to anarchy and the Government must act and act swiftly before the ultra Leftist movement gained ground in the State.

He said out of 626 districts across the country, 155 were affected by the activities of naxals who were running a parallel administration, judiciary and revenue collection.

Cautioning the Karnataka Government against being in a dilemma on acting against the naxalites, he said it must take steps to deal with the menace before the situation went out of control and became "irretrievable".

On the Assembly elections in three States, Kumar said the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) had failed the very first test in that its partners were contesting against one another in Bihar and Jharkhand. Contrary to this, the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) allies never fought against each other in any of the elections held during its rule, he said.

Asserting that the NDA would form Government in Bihar and Jharkhand, he said the UPA alliance had disintegrated in Bihar, where the people want to end alleged RJD misrule. There would be a realignment of political forces after the Assembly elections, he said.