Rajya Sabha expresses concern over Naxalite problem

New Delhi, Mar 20 (UNI) Expressing serious concern over the naxalites spreading their tentacles and clout in several parts of the country, Congress member B S Gnanadesikan today made a strong case for modernisation of police forces and effective implementation of welfare policies to deal with the menace.

Introducing a Private Member's resolution in the Rajya Sabha on the problem of naxalism, Mr Gnanadesikan also pitched for amending constitutional provisions to allow the Union government to intervene in those states which were found lax in implementing the schemes to deal with the scourge.

In this connection, he referred to two police stations in the naxal-affected areas of Bihar, which were not equipped with electricity and cellphones.

''The fact is that the Centre has approved a special grant of Rs 1000 crore to Bihar for dealing with the Naxalites. On the other hand, there are examples of these two police stations which are operating in darkness and without telephones as the bills for these facilities were not cleared,'' he pointed out.

He said naxal attacks had increased in recent times, which indicated that they were consolidating their presence across the country.

''Regrettably, state police forces are ill-equipped to counter the naxal attacks and their activities,'' he said, adding that nearly 700 people, including 250 security personnel, were killed in the naxal-related violence during the last two years.

Observing that absence of awareness had resulted in the expansion of naxal network in rural and forest areas, he said it was imperative on the part of the government to create special forces to operate in tandem with state police in naxal-affected areas, besides deployment of CRPF.

Mr Gnanadesikan said it would be a fallacy to treat naxalism as merely a law and order problem as it had deep socio-economic dimensions.

''The problem can be tackled by accelerating a host of welfare schemes in naxal areas and rehabilitate the naxal cadres who are willing to join the mainstream,'' he argued.

Also, there is a need to provide nutritional allowance to the jawans who are involved in combating the naxalites and create a Central agency to minitor, prevent and eradicate the problem in its entirety.

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