Chidambaram Accepts Naxal Threat was ‘Under Estimated’

Regretting that the Naxal threat was “under-estimated” for many years, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has said that a military advisor has been anointed to fomulate an action plan for dealing with Maoists.

To deal with the situation in Naxal affected states like Orissa and Chhattisgarh, a joint action plan is being prepared, he said while responding to a query in Rajya Sabha.

“Plans are being drawn up in close consultation with state governments … we have also appointed a military advisor (for inputs on dealing with Left-wing extremism),” he said.

“Today they (Naxalites) pose a grave challenge … We are preparing to taken on the challenge. Details cannot be disclosed now,” he said.

Chidambaram said that he was in touch with chief ministers of the Naxal-affected states and would hold a meeting with them in August to discuss ways to counter Left-wing extremism.

He said that state-level plans are being formulated so that they can be integrated with the Centre’s plan.

“Regrettably for many years we did not properly assess the threat posed by Left-wing extremism. We under-estimated the challenge and in the meanwhile they (Naxalites) extended their influence,” he said.

When D Raja (CPI) asked about the Salwa Judum movement in Chattisgarh to deal with Naxalites, Chidambaram said that the Centre was not in favour of non-state players.

“We are not in favour of non-state players taking on extremists. That could be a political party … that could be Salwa Judum or any other organisation. We are for the states dealing with Left-wing extremists,” he said.