All party meeting to discuss on surrender package for Naxalites

Ranchi, May 5 (UNI) An all-party meeting will be held to discuss the Jharkhand government's recent surrender-package for Naxalites to bring a consensus on the much-debated issue.

Chief Minister Arjun Munda is expected to convene the meeting after requests from Home Minister Sudesh Mahato.

Mr Munda, currently on tour of election campaign in West Bengal and other poll-bound states in southern part of the country, would be returning to the capital soon.

Government sources today said the meeting was called following intense criticism from various political parties, who were concerned about the rehabilitation package, announced by the state Home Minister on April 20.

The government was now maintaining that the package was aimed at building consensus from all before making it sail through the cabinet meeting.

The proposed all-party meeting would take into consideration the suggestions of the political parties and then place it in the next cabinet meeting with amendment, if required.

According to the package, the government would offer Rs 50,000 to the extremists, who would surrender in two instalments, insurance cover for Rs 10 lakh besides Rs two thousand per month.

Mr Mahato also proposed to provide lawyers and fees to fight legal battles. The ultras surrendering with arms, would get the cost of the weapons.

The Naxalite attacks on the government buildings and properties had not gone down following the surrender package.

In the past month, reports of such incidents continued to pour in mainly from Palamu, Chatra, Latehar and Giridh that prompted political parties, mainly the Opposition, to make it a debatable issue.

UNI PRS JYN SB PM1802