Maoists are organised gang of criminals: Advani

Raipur, Apr 22 (UNI) Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Lal Krishna Advani today said the Maoists were organised gang of criminals, who did not have any ideology.

''The naxalites have no policy and ideology. They are just criminals,'' he said, while addressing a public meeting at the Gandhi maidan here on the second-day of his 'Bharat Suraksha Yatra' in Chhattisgarh.

''In the initial days of the naxal movement, few educated people had joined it for the cause of social justice. But now there are only criminals,'' Mr Advani said, adding that the ultras had no sympathy for tribals and poor.

Mr Advani said though the Maoists talked about welfare of the poor and tribals, it were only these sections, which were victims of naxalite violence.

He said a large number of tribals had to desert their villages and take shelter in relief camps set up by the state government due to naxal violence and terror in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.

The Maoist violence has taken its toll on development initiatives in the tribal areas.

He criticised the UPA government at the Centre saying that it had dismantled the unified and co-ordinated centre-state strategy that the NDA government had evolved way back in 1999.

The BJP leader alleged that the Centre and the Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh had adopted a soft stand towards naxalites for about two years, with an eye on the elections.

Alleging that naxal problem had turned worse because of wrong policies of the Centre, Mr Advani said the situation was not so serious during the NDA rule, as serious steps had been taken to tackle the problem.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi alleged that some human rights organisations were out to present a wrong picture before the world whenever there was a stern action against terrorists and naxalites.

''These organisations talk about human rights violation by the police and security forces but remained silent on the human rights of security personnel and innocent people being killed in violence,'' he said.

Mr Modi alleged that most of these human rights organisations were playing into the hands of ''foreign forces.'' Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said the state, which came into existence five years ago, was facing the challenge of naxalite menace.

He said his government has taken steps to speed up development in the tribal areas.

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