India must remain alert after Pakistan developments: Rajnath

Raipur, Nov 5 (UNI) Bharatiya Janata Party President Rajnath Singh today called for maximum alert and increasing the number of troops in Kashmir in the wake of ongoing developments in neighbouring Pakistan.

''It's a possibility that Pakistan could instigate trouble by stepping up terrorist activities in Kashmir just for diverting world attention from its domestic problem,'' he said, while speaking at the valedictory function of Chhattisgarh's statehood celebrations., ''It is just because of political reasons that people are talking about scaling down military presence in Kashmir,'' he said.

''These were issues related to national security and politics has no place in it. Terrorism has to be delt with an iron hand,'' he noted.

Pointing out that naxalism was a major challenge being faced by the nation, the BJP President said the red terror has raised its head in 170 districts spread over 15 states, affecting nearly one third of the country's population. He said no state was in a position to deal with naxalism by itself. Hence, the Centre must formulate an integrated plan in consultation with the states concerned to tackle the menace.

Chief Minister Raman Singh, Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Prem Prakash Pandey and Culture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal also spoke on the occasion.

UNI