'Integrated National Plan to check Naxalism'

New Delhi, Aug 7: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has termed naxalism as the greatest threat to the security of the country and said that unless a National Level Integrated Action Plan was formulated and implemented, the menace could not be contained.

Mr Singh here said naxalism affected about 140 districts of 16 states, posing a major threat to the nation, but the problem was being dealt symptomatically with no measures to root out its cause.

Stating that unless a programme was launched at the national level with short term, mid-term and long term measures to check naxalism, nothing concrete could be achieved. He said that states need roads and industries for development and providing employment to the people which could go a long way in containing naxalism.

Reacting sharply to the criticism that Selva Judum movement was exposing defenceless tribals to the mercy of naxal violence, Mr Singh said that it was a non-violent people's movement being run on Gandhian philosophy. The people were staying in shelters as they feel more secure in them, he said.

Asserting that any political party or government has nothing to do with Selva Judum, he said that people of the state have realised that they could not progress unless naxalism was controlled.

''People in tribal areas are still living in eighteenth century, they want schools, hospitals and other facilities which they are not getting due to naxals. So they have stood up against them. No political party could lead a procession of 10,000 tribals in one go.

It is the self realisation of the people that they have come up to oppose naxalism,'' he said.

Mr Singh said that the experience in Punjab showed that the situation improved once the local people rose against terrorism. Similarly, situation has improved in many North Eastern states, once people stood up against anti-national forces. The Chief Minister said the state government has launched a Policy to bring back naxals into the mainstream by providing them security and employment. He said the policy approved last year by the assembly, has three categories.

Hard core naxalites, who surrender with arms are given security and employment, supporters in villages and urban supporters who provide them ideological fuel, have all been given various options to surrender and become part of the national mainstream.

Mr Singh criticised the centre for not doing enough for the development of the state by providing more royality for its minerals or setting up industries and constructing roads in the remote areas which could help in checking naxalism. He said that the Border Road Organisation has been asked to build 70 Km road in Chhatisgarh, but it has constructed just 15 km road.

UNI