New Delhi, April 13
Dubbing Naxalism as the “single biggest internal security challenge,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today suggested setting up of joint unified commands (JUCs) in areas badly hit by Left wing terrorism and dedicated ‘wings of grey hounds’ on the pattern of Andhra Pradesh to tackle the menace.

He also suggested two-pronged strategy of effective police response and socio-economic development of the Naxal- affected areas be given high priority.

“It would not be exaggeration to say that the problem of Naxalism is the single biggest internal security challenge ever faced by our country,” Dr Singh said while addressing a day-long meeting here of Chief Ministers of six states, severely hit by Naxalism. He also met Chief Ministers of Naxal-hit states at his residence in the morning.

Asking states to consider undertaking joint operations and setting up of joint unified commands in the badly-affected core areas, Dr Singh said the police action was needed to be backed by liberal surrender and rehabilitation policy.

He favoured setting up of dedicated anti-Naxal wings under capable officers on the pattern of grey hounds of Andhra Pradesh.

Expressing serious concern over the growing military might of Naxalites, their use of modern equipment, trained persons, large-scale assaults, good coordination and alleged external links, the Prime Minister talked about a pro-active approach to deal with the menace.

In this context, he said there should be measures for protecting policemen from undue harassment for actions taken against Naxalites. However, he also added that an effective police response did not mean that we needed to brutalise the Indian state.

“Our strategy, therefore, has to be to ‘walk on two legs’, to have an effective police response while at the same time focussing on reducing the sense of deprivation and alienation,” the Prime Minister said.

The meeting was attended among others by Chief Ministers of Orissa, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Union Ministers of Home, Tribal Affairs and Panchayati Raj, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, National Security Adviser and senior government officials from the Centre and state governments.

Underlining the need to recognise that Naxalism was not merely a “law and order issue”, the Prime Minister said “exploitation, artificially depressed wages, iniquitous socio-political circumstances, inadequate employment opportunities, lack of access to resources, under developed agriculture, geographical isolation, lack of land reforms, all contribute significantly to the growth of the Naxalite movement.” He also referred to the need for waiving debts by moneylenders, compounding of petty forest offences, coverage for every poor family in the affected districts under various schemes and better relief and rehabilitation to those displaced.

In his concluding remarks, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil pointed out that the chairing of today’s meeting by Prime Minister indicated that highest priority being accorded by the government to resolve the issue.

Mr Patil asserted that people’s resistance movement like ‘Salva Judum’ in Chhattisgarh would be upscaled and given all support to contain the Naxalite attacks.

Realising the problems faced by tribesmen, he said the Centre had assured that the Forest Act would be amended so that it did not block the development of tribal areas. “Provisions would be made to give land for construction of roads, schools and lying of electric poles, etc,” Mr Patil said.