Only 3 CMs to attend anti-Naxal meet

Only three chief ministers have confirmed their participation in the one-day conference on Tuesday September 21 of nine Naxalite-affected states convened by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil in Hyderabad to deliberate on the initiatives taken by various state governments to tackle the menace and its impact on other states.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, Orissa's Naveen Patnaik and Jharkhand's Arjun Munda will not have the benefit of interacting with their counterparts from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

AP Home Minister K Jana Reddy told newspersons in Hyderabad on Monday that senior ministers or top officials will represent the other states.

Maharashtra CM Sushil Kumar Shinde cancelled his trip due to his preoccupation with assembly elections but the absence of the other chief ministers betrays a lack of interest at the highest level to tackle the problem.

The others who are expected to attend are Union Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal, Special Security Adviser to the prime minister M K Narayanan, Union Home Secretary B P Singhal, directors-general of the Central Reserve Police Force and Intelligence Bureau, police chiefs of the nine states.

The meeting assumes significance in view of the ongoing talks between the Andhra Pradesh government and emissaries of the People's War group, the most dreaded among the Naxalite outfits, to find a lasting solution to the three decade long problem. The talks are deadlocked over whether Naxalites should be allowed to carry arms while talks are in progress.

The AP government will make a power-point presentation on the peace initiative, the law and order situation before and after lifting of the ban on the People's War, the strategy adopted by the police to curb the activities of the Naxalites and other related issues.

Despite the talks, senior police officials indicated that the AP government would seek central assistance of Rs 300 crore to arm the state police force with modern weapons and equipment, in the eventuality of failure of talks and resumption of violent activity by the Naxalites.

The apprehension does not seem to be unfounded because Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have reportedly expressed concern over AP's decision, claiming it had helped the group to step up its activities and strengthen its cadres in their areas. The problem is acute in neighbouring Orissa with Naxalite dalams (squads) operating freely across the AP-Orissa border.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is reportedly apprehensive that the Centre's decision to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act will help Naxalites. Hence, BJP chief ministers are expected to raise the issue.

Also Read Karl and the Kalashnikov

A top home ministry official told rediff.com that the Union government expects some states to demand legislation to curb Naxal activities. It will outline its views on the peace initiative of the AP government and the likely implications on the neighbouring states.

Briefing reporters after a cabinet committee on security meeting on September 18 where the Naxal problem was the only issue discussed, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the government is keen to thrash out a new approach to the three-and-a-half-decade-old problem.

Patil has hinted at a three-point strategy vis-à-vis the Naxalite groups in the country: dialogue and development of backward areas, employment generation and redressal of people's grievances. The Union government aimed to evolve a coordinated approach as more states have expressed willingness to initiate talks with the Naxalite groups.

Among the issue to be discussed will be the Naxalites' alleged links with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and Left bodies in neighbouring countries. Another is whether the violent Maoist movement in Nepal could spill over to neighbouring Bihar.