Joint campaign by Centre to tackle naxalism necessary: Raman Singh

Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, Mar 22 (UNI) Chief Minister Raman Singh today said only a joint campaign led by the Centre could help tackle the naxalite problem, affecting several states.

''The Naxalite problem is expanding its roots in several states, including Chhattisgarh. It is inarguably a national problem,'' Dr Singh, who was here to campaign for the Lok Sabha bypoll in Rajnandgaon constituency, told UNI.

Pointing out that affected states could not deal with the menace at their own level, he said the Centre had made several schemes in this regard but it never came out of the realm of papers.

Alleging that the Centre was not providing the required support for tackling naxalism, he said it was high time that the Centre started a joint campaign to flush out the extremists.

He said no differences existed between naxalism and terrorism, as both aimed at killing innocent people and the situation could explode if steps were not taken at the earliest to control the problem.

Dr Singh said the government had launched a campaign to track down naxalites in naxal-affected areas of Chhattisgarh.

Police had also reviewed its strategy in the view of the naxalite attack on Ranibodli camp. More than 50 police personnel of the Chhattisgarh Armed Force and Special Police Officers were killed in the recent attack.

The Chief Minister asserted that the attack had not demoralised police personnel, who were prepared to deal with the menace.

He said the government would leave no stone unturned to wipe out the naxalism problem. It was not a local problem but a problem that was affecting several states and had an established network, he said.

Regarding the arrest of senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, Dr Singh said Mr Jogi was arrested on the directions of the court. The matter was sub-judice so any decision could come up.

He criticised the former CM for providing political colour to his arrest, which was carried out on the basis of the directions of the court.

The Chief Minister said Mr Jogi and his supporters must refrain from making statements in matters which were sub-judice.

Regarding the Rajnandgaon by-poll, Dr Singh said development was the key poll issue. The BJP Government was placing its achievements before the people.

He added that the steep price rise during the UPA Government's tenure was also an issue.

UNI