Chidambaram sets 2-3 years' time frame to contain Naxals

New Delhi, Apr 19 (PTI) Setting a time frame of 2-3 years
for containing the Naxal menace, India's Home Minister P
Chidambaram Monday said responsibility for "terrible failure"
of command and control that led to Dantewada massacre will be
fixed.

Replying to a debate in the Upper House of Parliament on
the April six incident in the eastern Indian state of
Chhattisgarh in which 76 security personnel were killed, he
said those held responsible would be made answerable.
Chidambaram said he has asked Ram Mohan, probing the
massacre "to fix responsibility from the Assistant Commandant
(CRPF) right up to the minister in the Ministry of Home
Affairs. ...let him fix responsibility where this failure of
command and control took place". The report of the probe is
expected by April 25.
Taking a dig at the NGOs and human rights organisations
which empathise with Maoists, the Home Minister said, he was
willing "to be advised....if necessary, what course
corrections" were needed.
But, he said, the "challenge has to be met squarely and
fearlessly....It is a serious law and order problem."
Chidambaram said he was truly "heart-broken" following
the incident and felt it was his moral duty to resign.
Noting that India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the
United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi
rejected his resignation, he said, "I am determined to
continue to provide leadership in the Ministry of Home Affairs
and to our para military forces.
"I am determined to continue to extend assistance to the
states to fight the menace of naxalism. We have to do so
without fear," he said amidst thumping of desks from the
members, including the main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP).
Chidambaram said, "We will be able to substantially
contain and control this menace in about two-three years. We
have to set for ourselves a time horizon."
Ruling out use of Army and Air Force against Naxals, he
said the government was examining whether special forces have
to be used to support trained para military forces and
"whether aircraft can be used for surveillance, logistics,
supplies and evacuation".
Responding to jibes by Leader of Opposition, Arun Jaitley
how the Home Minister would "tackle" his own party colleagues
in his endeavour, Chidambaram said, "You (Jaitley) should not
make an attempt because you will not succeed in trying to
divide my party. That will not happen."
He said the Congress Party and UPA are totally united.
Chidambaram said he was following the All India Congress
Committee (AICC) 2006 resolution which had asked the
government to give "highest priority to this serious law and
order issue".
About different opinions in his party, he said, "We are a
robust democracy. We must allow for shades of opinion. It is
for the government to evolve a policy after listening to every
shade of opinion," he said. PTI PC
RDM


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