Nitish Kumar seeks more Central support to deal with Naxals

NEW DELHI - Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday accused Centre for not giving his state enough support to fight against Maoists.

Addressing a meeting of Naxal-affected states convened by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Kumar said: “Bihar has not received the requisite support from Central Government.”

“There has been no change in the number of Central paramilitary companies deployed in Bihar over the last several years,” he added.

He said that not a single company of Para-military force has been deployed in Bihar as the other states received since the last meeting took place in October 2008.

He further said that the police action is not the solution of the existing naxal problem in the country as the centre is operating anti- naxal operation through state police and Para-military forces.

“Naxals are also part of our society and our police treatment forced them to emerge as leader who treated as heroes among them,” he said

“Enforcement action alone leads to wider alienation, making heroes out of the leaders of the extremist organizations,” he added

The meeting of the Chief Ministers of Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar deliberated on the situation arising out of the recent Maoist violence and to chalk out a strategy to curb Left-wing extremism.

Jharkhand, which is under President’s Rule, was represented by its Governor, while West Bengal sent its Health Minister for the meeting. (ANI)