Central efforts need to counter Naxalism: Chhattisgarh

New Delhi, Oct 13 (UNI) Pointing out that Naxalism was linked to internal security, the Chhatisgarh Government today called upon the Centre to initiate joint efforts with the affected-States to deal with the problem.

''Naxalism is one form of terrorism. It should be dealt with at the Central level as the problem is closely linked to internal security,'' Chief Minister Raman Singh said in his address to the National Integration Council, read out by State Tourism Minister Brajmohan Agarwal.

''The Centre should initiate joint efforts,'' he said and added that several affected States, including Chhattisgarh, were awaiting such a move for a long time.

Dr Raman Singh said 18 districts of Chhattisgarh were affected by Naxalism, and his Government had taken several measures to deal with the challenge.

The concept of 'Salwa Judum' had been quite effective in countering the Naxal problem, he said.

The State Government, he said, had also initiated measures to bringh Naxalities into the mainstream.

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