Forces to be deployed to re-establish civil administration in Naxal areas: Chidambaram - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Sunday strongly defended deployment of forces to re-establish civil administration in the Naxal affected areas. Briefing the media at the end of Chief Ministers Conference on internal security, Chidambaram said: “Forces will be deployed in the Naxal affected areas to bring back the situation and establish civilian administration, if that is being described as a battle then we are at it.” “Wherever there is a violence, we will deploy our forces to put down the violence,” he added. Chidambaram said that the Centre has asked the states to initiate talks with Maoists only when they abjure arms. Early in the day during 3rd chief ministers’ conference, Chidambaram expressed concern over Naxals not responding to Government’s offer. “Our public offer was scoffed at and spurned by the CPI (Maoist). Hence, in consultation with the Chief Ministers of naxal affected States, we decided to boldly confront the challenge thrown by the CPI (Maoist),” he said. “I am confident that the State Governments concerned will gradually gain the upper hand and re-establish the authority of the civil administration. I would urge the State Governments to ensure that re-establishment of the civil administration is quickly followed by implementation of development and welfare schemes,” Chidambaram added. Commenting on West Bengal’s request for deployment of additional forces to tackle the left wing extremism, Chidambaram said: “The Health Minister of West Bengal made this appeal on behalf of West Bengal Chief Minister, I am inclined to provide additional six companies of Central forces.” “But first let me hold Kolkata review meeting, I will asses the situation, actions initiated by states and then I will decide on providing additional forces,” he added. Earlier, in January, Chidambaram chaired a meeting of Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Home Minister of Maharashtra in Raipur to review the Naxal operations. Second meeting is scheduled to be held in Kolkata on Tuesday, in which Chief Ministers of Bihar, West Bengal , Jharkhand and Orissa are expected to participate. Chidambaram said he would continue to visit states and review the anti Naxal operations. He ruled out including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in the actions against Naxals.