Chattisgarh, July 28: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said Naxals have ambitions to capture power at the Centre through violent means.
Replying to an adjournment motion on Naxals issue in the state Assembly, Singh said the Naxals did not want to be bracketed in Chhattisgarh or some other states but want to capture Delhi.
He said the Naxal menace is a national issue and not a concern of ruling, opposition or a particular party.
“Naxals did not spare leader or activist of any party.
They (Naxals) do not hesitate to kill anybody who goes against them. So if a party considers itself close to Naxals then it is its biggest mistake,” Singh said.
Replying to claims that Naxal activities gained momentum in Chhattisgarh during BJP’s rule, Chief Minister, without naming Congress, said Naxalism began spreading its tentacles from 70s and everyone knows who ruled the country from 70s to 2003.
The solution to Naxalism is not submitting resignation but to confront it with honesty, he said.
Singh said around 25,000 policemen were recruited in the state in last seven years and a ‘jungle warfare’ college has been established in Kanker to train policemen in fighting against Naxals.
The Chief Minster said state government has the will power to fight against Naxalism.
He termed allegations that he bought votes in Naxal infested areas, as baseless saying people in Bastar voted to BJP viewing its developmental work.
Singh, refuting the allegations of handing over mines in Bastar region to private players, said no companies except NMDC,CMDC and SALE were working in the region.
Slamming Human Rights activists, Singh said they raise hue and cry if a person in jailed but keep mum when hundreds are killed in Bastar by Naxals.
He said an action plan has been implemented in Naxal infested regions in the state including Bastar for development works.
The Chief Minister said due to development works in Naxal infested regions the youths will not astray from the right path.
Congress slams Chhattisgarh’s BJP Govt over Naxal menance
Main Opposition Congress today disrupted the Question Hour in Chhattisgarh Assembly and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Raman Singh for “failing” to curb the Naxal activities in the state.
The issue of Naxalism was raised forcefully by the Congress. Amidst noisy scenes, Speaker Dharamlal Kaushik adjourned the House twice and the Question Hour could not be completed.
When the Chair allowed discussion on an adjournment motion on the Maoist menace in the state, Congress members slammed the BJP Government.
Leader of Opposition Ravindra Chaubey said increased attacks by the extremists in the last few months had resulted in loss of lives of a large number of security personnel and villagers. Despite this, the Raman Singh Government had been doing nothing except issuing statements, he alleged.
The Centre had provided adequate resources to Chhattisgarh to deal with Naxals, but the state has failed to use them effectively, Chaubey said.
Former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi (Congress) said the BJP Government lacks will to stamp out the Maoist menace. Naxalism should not be treated as a law and order problem. Social and economic development should be kept in mind while dealing with this issue.
–Agencies–