Hindu Vivek Kendra
A RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE PROMOTION OF HINDUTVA
   
 
 
«« Back
Their hands tied on Naxals, DGPs tell Patil: please clarify

Their hands tied on Naxals, DGPs tell Patil: please clarify

Author: Shishir Gupta & Bhavna Vji-Aurora
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: November 6, 2004

Reeling under a wave of Naxal attacks, especially after the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh effected a ceasefire and called Left wing extremists for talks, worried state police chiefs have sought clear directions from the Centre on how were they expected to deal with the problem.

But Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, responding to queries from DGPs at a special session on Left wing extremism, said it was for the states to individually deal with the Naxalite problem.

The Centre, he maintained, could not provide any directions in this regard. He cited the example of Kashmir where security forces were going after militants while the political leadership was keeping channels open for talks.

Most DGPS, attending the special session in the Capital, said they did not approve of Andhra's move to open talks with the People's War Group while the cadres were still armed. Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, while addressing the DGPs later, expressed concern over the rise in Left wing extremism and its spread over 150 districts.

"Large swathes of tribal territory from Andhra Pradesh in the South to the borders of UP and Bengal in the North and East have become hunting grounds of Left wing extremists," he pointed out.

DGPs of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra sought details on modalities of the ongoing talks between Andhra government and the Naxalites. They wanted the Andhra to share details of the talks with Naxals, who the interlocutors were and the conditions being laid down.

These questions were raised at the special session attended by Patil, Special Advisor to PM M K Narayanan, National Security Advisor J N Dixit, Home Secretary Dhirendra Singh and Director Intelligence Bureau A K Doval.

Chhattisgarh DGP O P Rathore said that his state had a clear cut policy: talks with Naxals only after they lay down arms.

"Actually there is nothing to talk. These people are ruthless. They are killing poor and innocent people and indulging in extortion," Rathore told The Indian Express.

He said most states affected by Left wing extremism had similar views.
 


Back                          Top

«« Back
 
 
 
  Search Articles
 
  Special Annoucements