Chidambaram Calls CMs of Three States for Meeting on Anti-Naxal Plan
Worried about rising Maoists violence, Home Minister P Chidambaram has invited chief ministers of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal for a meeting in Delhi to be assured that they are ‘on the same page’ with the Centre before launching inter-state operations against the Naxals, reported PTI.
In letters written to three chief ministers, Chidambaram said that the Centre has reached some ‘tentative conclusions’ on tackling the menace, said report.
“You will kindly appreciate that before the tentative conclusions are translated into decisions and implemented, it is necessary to be assured that the Governments of both West Bengal and Jharkhand fully endorse the plan,” he said in his letter to Bhattacharjee, reported PTI.
Report said citing sources that the minister said for the BJP, which adopted a hard stand on Naxalism in its National Council meeting in Indore and is an ally in the government in Bihar and Jharkhand, it’s an acid test, whether it will enforce a touch line or toe the perceived ‘soft line’ by the dominant partners in the two states, said report.
Chidambaram wants to be reassured that Bihar and Jharkhand chief ministers fully endorse the plans presented by their officials and are on the same page as the Central Government, said report.
The minister feels that unless the two chief ministers make a clear commitment, it will not be possible to implement the plans for inter-state operations, said report.
In his letter to Bhatacharjee, he has requested him to visit Delhi once the date of the visit of the Jharkhand Chief Minister is finalized, said report.
In his letter to Kumar, Chidambaram expressed his deep sense of shock and grief over the attack by Maoists in Jamui district, said report.
“It is regrettable that the attack could not be thwarted despite specific intelligence shared by the Central agencies with the Additional Director General of Police (Special Branch), Bihar,” he was quoted as saying.
The letter to Soren said while the Chief Minister was ill and could not attend the Kolkata meeting, his two deputy Chief Ministers attended it. One of the deputy Chief Ministers Raghuwar Das made certain statements “which have raised some doubts in my mind”, noted Chidambaram, said report.
“You will kindly appreciate that before the tentative conclusions are translated into decisions and implemented, it is necessary to be assured that you Government endorses the plan presented by the DGP, Jharkhand.
“It is also necessary that to be assured that the State Governments (of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal) and the Central Government are on the same page before commencing inter-State operations of the Jharkhand-Bihar and Jharkhand-West Bengal borders,” Chidambaram said inviting Soren to come to Delhi for formulating a plan of action.
To Bhattarchjee, the Home Minister expressed his deep sense of shock and grief over the attack on the EFR camp and noted that he has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
“Obviously, there were serious lapses and the matter must be thoroughly inquired into,” he said.
