Chidambaram says two-pronged strategy will continue to solve Naxalite problem

NEW DELHI - Home Minister P. Chidambaram has said that the Centre’s two- pronged anti- Naxalite strategy will continue and there is no better alternative.

Speaking at a seminar on ‘Development problems of regions affected by discontent and extremism’ here on Monday, Chidambaram said: “There needs to be a two-pronged approach to solve the issue of Left-wing extremism.”

“The development and police action together is the answer to Left-wing extremism,” he added.

Giving an account of the number of schools and roads destroyed by the rebels, he said that they don’t want the backward regions to be developed.

“If the Naxalites were in fact pro-development then they will not blast school buildings, bridges and roads. Please remember vast areas in Bastar district had been mined so that nobody can move. Most roads have been mined,” said Chidambaram.

He further said that in 2010 there were 302 incidents of Maoist violence in which they targeted railway tracks and stations, telephone exchange and towers, power plants, mining equipments, electricity transmission polls, Panchayat and school buildings, forest roads, culverts, bridges, and other targets.

He said in states like Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and Orissa, in 2010 alone, the rebels have destroyed 34 school buildings.

According to him police action along with developmental work in the Maoist infested areas are the right measure to counter them.

“In order to counter them the only way is police action combined with whatever development we can bring to those areas,” added Chidambaram.

He also pitched for setting up of a process so that certain amount of funds could reach directly to the local body and local authorities to carry out development work as asked by locals in Naxal-affected areas.

He said the paramilitary forces were deployed in large number during the recent Bihar Assembly elections and hence people came out in large number, which was a statement against Naxals.

Chidambaram said a large number of security personnel are also posted in Jharkhand for panchayat elections. (ANI)