Chidambaram praises Bengal govt for improvement in Naxal areas

Badu (WB), Feb 18: Lauding the Mamata Banerjee-led government for bringing about considerable change in Maoist-hit areas, Home Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday said the Naxal problem affecting worst-hit Junglemahal has been substantially controlled.

"I want to take the opportunity to warmly compliment the West Bengal government that they have accepted our advice, they have used our security forces and they have taken the help of central agencies and have brought considerable improvement in the situation in West Bengal", Chidambaram said at the inauguration of NSG hub here.

Although Banerjee skipped the function, Chidambaram said that the Centre was happy to work with the new government in the state.

"We worked with the previous state government in Bengal and happy to work with the new government", he said.

"I think after the new government has taken over in West Bengal, the people of the state will readily appreciate and acknowledge that the Naxal problem that was affecting Junglemahal has been substantially controlled", he said.

The union home minister expressed the hope that the state would finally get rid of the Naxal menace.

"Our approach is the same to terrorism, Naxalism, insurgency irrespective of the nature of the threat and irrespective which government is in power", he said.

Going forward, there would be greater improvement and the people of the state would enjoy the benefits of peace, security and harmony, Chidambaram said.He also urged the West Bengal government to widen the approach road to the NSG hub here.

"I have a demand before the state government. I want the three km approach road to the hub widened and concretised to help NSG commandos reach the airport quicker," he said.

"Every minute that is saved helps to reach the airport quicker and also to reach the site of the incident quicker. I request this to the government of West Bengal", he said.

After the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, the Centre had decided to set up NSG hubs across the country. The Kolkata hub would cater the needs of the eastern and north-eastern states.

PTI