Centre assisting West Bengal to tackle Maoist threats: Chidambaram

Ranchi, Oct 22 (ANI): Union Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram on Wednesday made it clear that the West Bengal Government needs to maintain law and order and it would be assisted by the Centre by all means to tackle Maoist threats.

Chidambaram said this in context to the rising Maoist influence in the state and the recent abduction of a police officer by the rebels.

"It is the West Bengal Government's duty to maintain law and order. They have asked for our assistance and we have given them assistance. It is the other way around. West Bengal sought the Central government's assistance and we have provide assistance," said Chidambaram.

He also disapproved claims of the Maoists to call themselves as an 'Armed Liberation struggle'.

He said that such views by the Maoists couldn't be accepted in a democratic system.

"Violence is not an answer but when a section speaks about 'armed liberation struggle', 'guerrilla war' and they are even using words like 'Prisoners of War'. We reject that and say it is unacceptable in a democracy and a republic. We can never accept a theory of an 'Armed Liberation Struggle' to capture power, " said Chidambaram.

Chidambaram was in Ranchi to review the security scenario, operations against Maoist rebels and development works in the state.

India has witnessed a series of violent Maoist attacks after police arrested three top Maoist ideologues --. Kobad Ghandy, Chhatradhar Mahato and Chandrabhushan Yadav recently.

The Maoist rebellion, which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described as the biggest internal security challenge since independence, began four decades ago championing the cause of poor peasants in the east, but has now spread to about 20 of India's 29 states. (ANI)