Naxalism biggest threat to peace and security : Pranab

New Delhi, Dec 28 (PTI) Calling naxalism the "biggest
threat" to peace and security in the country, Finance Minister
Pranab Mukherjee Tuesday said he is concerned about it's
spread to economically backward areas and asked the CRPF to
handle the situation with sensitivity.
"I am particularly concerned over the spread of
Left-Wing Extremism in some of the more backward areas of the
economy. In part, it is a reflection of our failure in meeting
the expectations of the local people," Mukherjee said while
officiating as the chief guest at the 71st Raising day
celebrations of CRPF in the national capital.
The government has deployed almost 60,000 personnel
(sixty battalions) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
to undertake anti-naxal operations in various states affected
by Maoist activities.
"Maoist threat is one of the biggest threat to peace
and security...it is easy to misguide people who have been
denied their legitimate demands or deprived of their rights
and where the state has not shown adequate sensitivity in
sharing and mitigating the local concerns.
"However, implementation of any corrective public
measures requires a certain degree of normalcy to prevail in
the affected areas," Mukherjee said.
"It is vital to dovetail the developmental efforts of
the state in these areas with your operational strategy and
practice. While we should be firm, decisive and unrelenting in
dealing with the armed component of the extremism, a great
degree of sensitivity, patience and maturity will have to be
exhibited in dealing with the general population in the
affected areas," he said after reviewing the parade of the
world's largest paramilitary force which has a strength of
three lakh personnel.
"I urge you (security forces like CRPF) to handle the
situation with sensitivity and a firm resolve with a view to
bring back the disgruntled elements of the society into the
mainstream of developmental process," he said.
"Today the peace and security of the country is being
challenged by threats emanating from cross-border terrorism,
insurgency in north eastern areas and the emergence of Left
Wing Extremism in certain parts of the country. These have
direct implications not only for the development and
prosperity of the affected regions but also affect the overall
well being of our society.
"We need to address these concerns urgently and in
totality," he said.
Mukherjee said that the writ of the constitution
should be implemented across the country.
"We as the custodians of the Constitution of India
have a moral, ethical and legal responsibility to ensure that
the writ of the Constitution runs throughout the length and
breadth of the country with no exceptions. It is our solemn
duty to confront all forces which stand in the way of
implementing it's provisions. Herein lies the biggest
challenge before you (security forces)," he said. MORE PTI