Naxalism a big challenge: New Home Secretary

New Delhi, Jul 1: Terming Naxalism as the "big challenge" for the country, new Home Secretary R K Singh on Thursday said the Centre will confront the menace with close coordination with Maoist-affected states.

"I believe Naxalism is a big challenge before us. We will confront the challenge....to get success, it is necessary to work with the state governments in close partnership. We will try to work more closely with state governments," Singh told reporters minutes after assuming the charge of Union Home Secretary.

Singh said the central government would continue to focus on the two-pronged strategy of police action and development projects to deal with Maoists.

"We have strengthened our forces. We will strengthen them further, providing them more training. We will focus on intelligence input, which is very important, and coordinate with state governments in carrying out development projects," he said.

He said there was a need to strengthen the state police forces too and the Centre will continue to assist the state governments in this task.

Commending on his predecessor G K Pillai who retired today, Singh said the Home Ministry has done a "tremendous" job in confronting the challenges facing the nation in the last couple of years.

"I will look forward to continuing the initiatives which have been taken. I look forward to confronting the challenges in the same manner as my predecessor. And I am quite certain that we shall continue the policy that we have," he said.

PTI