New Delhi, October 16: In the backdrop of a spurt in naxal violence, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said there was complete unanimity at the Centre over dealing with Maoist menace and accused non-Congress ruled Orissa and Chhattisgarh of failing to reach out to the people to check the problem.
“There is complete unaminity as far as the government is concerned on naxalism. State governments should reach out to the people to combat it but governments like Chhatisgarh and Orissa are not doing so,” Gandhi said.
Replying to a question on increase in naxal violence, he said that except for some pockets the overall law and order situation in the country was good.
The advent of sophisticated weaponry, he said, was responsible for violence all over the world.
Gandhi also launched a fresh attack on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati alleging she was opposed to NREGA which was “the best scheme that benefitted crores of people”.
“The UP CM is not interested in NREGA and has termed it not good. We can’t do much if state governments do not implement the programmes,” he said.
“If state governments implement NREGA it functions smoothly. If state governments don’t, then there is corruption,” Gandhi said when told about corruption in the programme.
Referring to his visits to the homes of the poor during in different states, Gandhi said, “I visit the houses of the poor, I go to universities and colleges and towns because my effort is to talk and know their problems”.
“If I go to them, I can learn their problems,” he said adding he did not understand why it bothered his political opponents.
—Agencies