Mail News Service
\nImphal, Aug 26: R Ashoka Dy, Chief Minister, Karnataka today appealed to all who left Karnataka to come back as Karnataka is peaceful. He said Karnataka and specially Bangalore city are safe and there is no report of any communal violence. All necessary steps have been taken up to ensure that people from north east are protected he said.
\nR Ashoka who arrived here today on a good will mission interacted with parents of students who left Karnataka in the wake of the recent exodus of people from north eastern states from Karnataka. After meeting the parents he interacted with State Home Minister, Gaikhangam, DGP, Y Joykumar and other senior officials. He also called on Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh
\nLater he addressed the media at the Chief Minister\u2019s Secretariat. There was some problem as some persons sent messages through SMS and posted fake photographs in the internet he added. Regarding sending of SMS 15 cases were taken up and five persons nabbed
\nIt was estimated that about 35,000 people fled Karnataka and altogether 22 persons were nabbed. To ensure protection of NE people 25 platoons of security personnel are deployed and 600 homeguards are also deployed beside volunteers.
\nHe said we are all brothers and sisters and there is no difference among the people of different states. There are also reports about involvement of Pakistan and ISI and the central government is taking up necessary steps.
\n After the series of meetings with the state officials and ministers, the Karnataka deputy chief minister told the media persons that nothing is to be worried now as his state government has been doing all out effort to contain the situation. R Ashoka said that Bangalore is the safest place in the country and appealed those people who had fled from the city to return without any hesitation. He said his government has been working day-in and day-out to make the north east people feel secured and that the government of Karnataka is equipped well to thwart any threat to the people. “There is no difference between the people of Karnataka and the North Easterners,” said R Ashoka.
\nThe Karnataka deputy chief minister’s visit to Manipur was preceded by his visit to Assam. R Ashoka left Imphal this afternoon.
\nBefore he wind up his good will mission here, R Ashoka met students and their guardians who returned from Bangalore and other Karnataka state. He appealed these students fervently to come back to Karnataka at the earliest saying that they are nothing to fear as the state government will protect them at any cost.
\nThe exodus happened due to circulation of rumours, SMS and YouTube videos,\u201d Ashoka said.
\nAshoka, who met Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and briefed him about the steps taken by his government, said he was told by him that Assam government was in touch with the Railways and there would be special train services from Guwahati from September 1 to take back all those who had fled.
\nHe said Karnataka government had contacted firms whose employees fled and promised to take them back in their previous jobs.\u201cA help-line would be set up by Karnataka government for this,\u201d he said.
\nHe said 22 arrests have been made by Karnataka police so far and 17 cases registered.
\nOf these, five were arrested for their alleged involvement in circulation of provocative SMS and video.<\/p>\n\n