Govt Has Legitimate Right to Use Force against Maoists: Chidambaram
Making amply clear that talks with Maoists can take place only when they abjure violence, the government has said that it has the legitimate right to use as much force as necessary to regain control of areas dominated by the rebels, reported PTI.
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram termed naxalism as a ‘graver problem’ than jihadi terrorism and pledged to efficiently handle the threat from Maoists, who have declared a war against the Indian state before the term of the government ends, said report.
The minister said that objective of the rebels was armed liberation struggle with the sole purpose to seize power, said report.
In reference to a recent offer of talks, Chidambaram asked, “Why aren’t the Maoists making a simple statement that we abjure violence?”
In such a situation, he went on to say, government has the legitimate right to use as much force as necessary to regain the areas, said report.
The minister hoped that once the government regains control in two to three years, it would usher in development, report said.
“We are confident that before the term of UPA II ends, we will get rid of naxals and will have considerably strengthened our security to face any threat,” he was quoted as saying while addressing the India Today Conclave in New Delhi.
“They (Maoists) have declared a war on the Indian state…They are anti-development. They do not want the poor to be emancipated or become economically free,” Chidambaram was quoted as saying, adding that civil right groups naively think that naxalites are pro-poor.
With the serious threat of jihadi terrorism centred around Pakistan and Afghanistan and also affecting Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, the minister said that South Asia is, therefore, duty bound to work together to end the menace, said report.
The Home Minister referred to the ‘splendid cooperation’ from Bangladesh in tackling militancy after Sheikh Hasina’s government came to power but expressed concern over recent developments in Nepal where, he said, there was ‘sprouting of anti-India activity’.
