Digvijay Singh for adopting developmental strategies to counter Naxals

New Delhi, Apr 14 (ANI): Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh has questioned Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's anti-Naxal strategy, and urged him to introduce more development related strategies to counter the red ultras.

In an article to a leading newspaper, Singh said strategies adopted by the Union Home Ministry have no place for affected people.

"His strategy does not take into consideration the people living in the affected area, who ultimately matter. He is treating it purely as a law and order problem," Singh wrote.

"When I raised these issues with him, he said that it was not his responsibility. I strongly believe in the collective responsibility of the cabinet, and as Home Minister, it is his responsibility to take a holistic view of the issue," he added.

Singh's article comes days after Union Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrashekhar's letter asked all ministers and secretaries not to speak on the Naxal issue.

Singh said though Chidambaram is intelligent, articulate, committed and sincere politician, he is also rigid once his mind is made up.

"While Chidambaram is extremely intelligent, articulate, committed and a sincere politician - he is also extremely rigid once he makes up his mind. I have been a victim of his intellectual arrogance many times, but we still are good friends," he wrote.

In the article, Singh called for more pro-people policies, rather than converting Chhattisgarh into a battlefield.

"In a civilised society and a vibrant democracy, ultimately it is the people who matter, and, I have always believed that the people are the solution," Singh said.

"This problem can only be solved by empowering the people who live in that region, who today are at the receiving end from both sides, while the state and civil society is debating things in the media," he added.

He further stated that in this conflict ordinary citizen of the country is becoming victim.

"We should be paying more attention to their issues of livelihood and governance rather than converting the serene and calm environment of Bastar into a battlefield. Ultimately, whether the bullet is fired from a Naxal's gun or a policeman's, the victim is an ordinary Indian citizen," Singh said. (ANI)