Top brass of the Congress met here this evening during which it was understood to have discussed the Dantewada naxal attack and Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s offer of resignation owing moral responsibility for it.
The Congress Core Group, comprising of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, party President Sonia Gandhi, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister Chidambaram, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Political Secretary to Congress President Ahmed Patel attended the meeting.
It is understood that the Dantewada incident in which 76 security personnel were killed and the offer of resignation of Mr. Chidambaram came up for discussion in the meeting, sources said.
Earlier at the AICC briefing, Congress backed Mr. Chidambaram saying his offer of resignation owning moral responsibility for the attack on the security forces was appreciated and commended by the party.
“The statement by Home Minister to Prime Minister owning full moral responsibility does not need to be commented upon. It is appreciated and commended,” party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.
The party also came out with a two-pronged approach to control the Maoist menace in their areas of influence.
Mr. Singhvi said the Central government will assist the state government in carrying out anti-Naxal operation and regain the territory from their influence.
The second strategy, according to the spokesman, was to address the socio-economic issues of poor people.
“This is to help the state government to restore civil administration and start developmental process like building schools, health centres, roads, providing water and electricity etc,” Mr. Singhvi said.
The party leader said the Congress believes the “state has legitimate right to deploy security forces to apprehend and neutralise the militants (Maoists).”
Referring to the history of the CPI (Maoists), Mr. Singhvi said after 2004, the Left Wing extremists extended their influence to different districts of the country and their avowed aim was to “liberate more and more areas.”
He said they have exploited the poverty faced by tribals in the affected districts and that the tribals seem to support them. “But it is fear masquerading as support,” he said.
Taking a sympathetic view of the tribals, Mr. Singhvi said, “the poor tribals are caught with CPI (Maoists) on one hand and ineffective administration on the other.”
Referring to the two-pronged strategy of the party, he said “our approach will succeed, must succeed.”
Mr. Singhvi said the Dantewada incident was a “scourge on democracy” and a violation of human rights.
Commending the role of the paramilitary forces, the spokesman said they have showed great courage against odds even as the enemy was invisible.
“This is the time to stand by our paramilitary forces and face the challenge posed by the anti-nationals like the naxalites,” he said.
The party leader also called upon all individuals who believe in Indian constitution to come out openly and condemn such dastardly acts.
Asked whether the party favoured a dialogue with the Maoists, he said this could be done only if they believed in Indian constitution and abjured violence.
“How can you expect a party to beg for talks when they (Maoists) talk through the barrel of the gun,” Mr. Singhvi asked.
On whether the party supported the use of military and air force against the Maoists, Mr. Singhvi referred to the statements of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister on the issue.
“At present, there is no mandate to use such force... But nothing can be ruled out,” he said, adding it was not necessary to speculate on it.
Mr. Singhvi also ridiculed media reports saying that the CRPF personnel, killed in Dantewada, were “not trained” for such a warfare saying this was “an insult” and such statements should not be made at this juncture.
Showing posts with label Operation Green Hunt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Operation Green Hunt. Show all posts
Friday, April 9, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Maoist bandh begins with explosions
Maoists triggered an explosion along a railway track in West Bengal and blew up a road bridge in Jharkhand as the 48-hour bandh called by them in seven States commenced on Monday.
The ultras triggered the blast alongside the railway track at Bhalukhunia between Midnapore and Godapia Sal stations in Bengal’s West Midnapore district early Monday, officials said.
District Magistrate N.S. Nigam said train services were affected for three hours in the morning following the blast as checks were conducted on the track by railway officials.
In separate incidents, over 20 Maoists stormed Bagjhappa village in the district and set ablaze a CPI(M) office on Sunday night.
Two CPI(M) supporters were also beaten up by the group following which they were admitted to a hospital at Jhargram.
The houses of two party supporters were also set on fire in nearby Chakua village.
Maoist posters, asking the security forces to stop the operation against them and seeking development of the Jangalmahal area, were seized by police at Dumuria village bordering Jharkhand on Monday.
“Through such incidents, the Maoists are trying to divert the attention of the combined forces engaged in the combing operation to flush out the Maoists from the Jangalmahal area”, Mr. Nigam said.
The bandh call has been given by the Maoists in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and three districts of Maharashtra to protest Operation Green Hunt against the Maoists.
A report from Jamshedpur, quoting the police, said Maoists triggered a landmine blast blowing up a road bridge in Jharkhand just before the two-day bandh commenced.
The damaged bridge is located between Raipahari and Kurlisuta villages under Jharkhand’s Ghatsila sub-division.
The bandh did not affect normal life in the urban pockets of Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad though it evoked a mixed response in some areas.
Majority of shops and markets downed their shutters in Dumaria, Ghorabandha and Potka in East Singhbhum, Nimdih and Chowka in Saraikela-Kharswan and Manoharpur, Sonua and Bandgaon in West Singhbhum districts.
While long distance buses remained off the road, commercial vehicles were plying in depleted strength in the rural pockets of Maoist-affected areas.
Railway services between Garwah Road-Barkakhana route under Dhanbad division of East Central Railway were also affected as several trains were cancelled or diverted in view of the bandh, railway sources said.
No untoward incident was reported from any part of the state so far, police said, adding an elaborate security arrangement had been put in place to meet any eventuality during the bandh.
Apart from the State police force, para-military forces and Railway Protection Force have been deployed to protect vital installations, the sources said.
The ultras triggered the blast alongside the railway track at Bhalukhunia between Midnapore and Godapia Sal stations in Bengal’s West Midnapore district early Monday, officials said.
District Magistrate N.S. Nigam said train services were affected for three hours in the morning following the blast as checks were conducted on the track by railway officials.
In separate incidents, over 20 Maoists stormed Bagjhappa village in the district and set ablaze a CPI(M) office on Sunday night.
Two CPI(M) supporters were also beaten up by the group following which they were admitted to a hospital at Jhargram.
The houses of two party supporters were also set on fire in nearby Chakua village.
Maoist posters, asking the security forces to stop the operation against them and seeking development of the Jangalmahal area, were seized by police at Dumuria village bordering Jharkhand on Monday.
“Through such incidents, the Maoists are trying to divert the attention of the combined forces engaged in the combing operation to flush out the Maoists from the Jangalmahal area”, Mr. Nigam said.
The bandh call has been given by the Maoists in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and three districts of Maharashtra to protest Operation Green Hunt against the Maoists.
A report from Jamshedpur, quoting the police, said Maoists triggered a landmine blast blowing up a road bridge in Jharkhand just before the two-day bandh commenced.
The damaged bridge is located between Raipahari and Kurlisuta villages under Jharkhand’s Ghatsila sub-division.
The bandh did not affect normal life in the urban pockets of Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad though it evoked a mixed response in some areas.
Majority of shops and markets downed their shutters in Dumaria, Ghorabandha and Potka in East Singhbhum, Nimdih and Chowka in Saraikela-Kharswan and Manoharpur, Sonua and Bandgaon in West Singhbhum districts.
While long distance buses remained off the road, commercial vehicles were plying in depleted strength in the rural pockets of Maoist-affected areas.
Railway services between Garwah Road-Barkakhana route under Dhanbad division of East Central Railway were also affected as several trains were cancelled or diverted in view of the bandh, railway sources said.
No untoward incident was reported from any part of the state so far, police said, adding an elaborate security arrangement had been put in place to meet any eventuality during the bandh.
Apart from the State police force, para-military forces and Railway Protection Force have been deployed to protect vital installations, the sources said.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Legitimate right to use force to tackle Maoists: Chidambaram
Government on Friday said it has the legitimate right to use as much force as necessary to regain control of areas dominated by the Maoists and made it clear that talks with it could only take place if the ultras abjured violence.
Terming naxalism as a “graver problem” than jihadi terrorism, Home Minister P. Chidambaram vowed to effectively tackle the threat from Maoists, who have declared a war against the Indian state, before the term of the government ends.
Mr. Chidambaram said the goal of the Maoists was armed liberation struggle and the sole purpose was to seize power.
Referring to the offer of talks made by the government to the Maoists recently, he asked, “Why aren’t the Maoists making a simple statement that we abjure violence?”
He said in such a situation, it was the legitimate right of the government to use as much force necessary to regain the areas and hoped that once the government regains control in two to three years, it would usher in development.
“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 said addressing the India Today Conclave here.
Mr. Chidambaram described naxalism as a “graver problem” than that of jihadi terrorism and pointed out that they have presence in 200 districts of the country and virtually control 34.
“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,” Mr. Chidambaram said, adding 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, Mr. Chidambaram said South Asia is, therefore, duty bound to work together to end the menace.
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”.
Terming naxalism as a “graver problem” than jihadi terrorism, Home Minister P. Chidambaram vowed to effectively tackle the threat from Maoists, who have declared a war against the Indian state, before the term of the government ends.
Mr. Chidambaram said the goal of the Maoists was armed liberation struggle and the sole purpose was to seize power.
Referring to the offer of talks made by the government to the Maoists recently, he asked, “Why aren’t the Maoists making a simple statement that we abjure violence?”
He said in such a situation, it was the legitimate right of the government to use as much force necessary to regain the areas and hoped that once the government regains control in two to three years, it would usher in development.
“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 said addressing the India Today Conclave here.
Mr. Chidambaram described naxalism as a “graver problem” than that of jihadi terrorism and pointed out that they have presence in 200 districts of the country and virtually control 34.
“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,” Mr. Chidambaram said, adding 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, Mr. Chidambaram said South Asia is, therefore, duty bound to work together to end the menace.
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”.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Halt operations for 72 days and we will talk: Maoists
Faced with the inter-State ‘Operation Green Hunt,’ the Maoist leadership said on Monday that it was ready for dialogue only if the Centre halted security operations targeting the outfit for 72 days.
The condition comes within a week of Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram saying that the Centre would find ways to facilitate talks with the Maoists if the latter halted violence for 72 hours.
Speaking to The Hindu over telephone from an undisclosed location, Raju, an aide of Maoist Polit Bureau leader Kishanji, said the Maoists were ready to hold talks with the Centre if the latter promised to stop “violence” from February 25 to May 7.
“In reply to the Centre’s condition that they are ready for dialogue if the Maoists halt violence for 72 hours, we propose that we will talk with the Centre only if it stops violence against innocent people in the forest belts across the five States for 72 days,” Raju said.
He added that the Maoists invited the mediation of intellectuals and human rights organisations to facilitate the talks.
There was, however, no clarification as to whether the rebels have dropped their earlier condition for initiating talks when another top Maoist leader Ganapathy had demanded the release of all prominent Maoist leaders from several prisons across the country.
Reacting to President Pratibha Patil’s inaugural speech at the beginning of the Budget session — where she called the Maoists cowards — Raju said: “Over the last one year, security personnel have killed more than 400 Maoists and villagers, injured more than 300, raped more than 50 women and rendered thousands homeless. Are these the signs of bravery?”
The condition comes within a week of Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram saying that the Centre would find ways to facilitate talks with the Maoists if the latter halted violence for 72 hours.
Speaking to The Hindu over telephone from an undisclosed location, Raju, an aide of Maoist Polit Bureau leader Kishanji, said the Maoists were ready to hold talks with the Centre if the latter promised to stop “violence” from February 25 to May 7.
“In reply to the Centre’s condition that they are ready for dialogue if the Maoists halt violence for 72 hours, we propose that we will talk with the Centre only if it stops violence against innocent people in the forest belts across the five States for 72 days,” Raju said.
He added that the Maoists invited the mediation of intellectuals and human rights organisations to facilitate the talks.
There was, however, no clarification as to whether the rebels have dropped their earlier condition for initiating talks when another top Maoist leader Ganapathy had demanded the release of all prominent Maoist leaders from several prisons across the country.
Reacting to President Pratibha Patil’s inaugural speech at the beginning of the Budget session — where she called the Maoists cowards — Raju said: “Over the last one year, security personnel have killed more than 400 Maoists and villagers, injured more than 300, raped more than 50 women and rendered thousands homeless. Are these the signs of bravery?”
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Maoists blow up a portion of rail track in Jharkhand
Maoists blew up a stretch of railway track in Jharkhand’s Giridih district in the wee hours on the third day of their 72-hour shutdown today, affecting train services, the police said here.
The tracks were blown up under Nimiaghat police station in the district, Superintendent of Police Ravi Kant Dhan said.
“Trains on this section have been stopped on both up and down lines,” Parasnath station superintendent Mrutinjaya Kumar said, adding a couple of deafening explosions were heard around 2 a.m.
Maoists had on Sunday called a 72-hour bandh in Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh to protest the proposed all-out offensive against them by the Centre.
They yesterday blew up railway tracks in Orissa and Bihar on the second day of their 72-hour bandh.
The tracks were blown up under Nimiaghat police station in the district, Superintendent of Police Ravi Kant Dhan said.
“Trains on this section have been stopped on both up and down lines,” Parasnath station superintendent Mrutinjaya Kumar said, adding a couple of deafening explosions were heard around 2 a.m.
Maoists had on Sunday called a 72-hour bandh in Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh to protest the proposed all-out offensive against them by the Centre.
They yesterday blew up railway tracks in Orissa and Bihar on the second day of their 72-hour bandh.
