Madurai/New Delhi, November 1
Two days after extending an olive branch to Maoists, Home Minister P Chidambaram has said that he will not allow an armed revolution to succeed in India till his last breath. The government is also ready to launch the much-awaited full-fledged anti-Naxal operations in three different areas, considered tri-junctions of Maoist violence.
“Till last blood is there in my life, I will not allow armed revolution or terrorism and violence to overtake us in India,” the Home Minister told a public meeting in Madurai. Chidambaram said both the Congress and the BJP governments at the Centre had “underestimated” the Naxalites for the last 10 to 13 years.
“Now they (Naxalites) are trying to create problems in the country with arms in their hands. They are not going to succeed in this,” he said. At the same time, he said the Centre is ready to have dialogue with them provided they abjure violence.
Meanwhile, the tri-junctions, which have been identified for the offensive against the ‘Red Rebels’, are: Andhra Pradesh-Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh; Orissa-Jharkhand-Chhattisgarh and West Bengal-Jharkhand-Orissa.
Home Ministry sources said around 40,000 paramilitary personnel would assist the respective state police forces during the operations that will be launched soon. Almost 7,000 specially trained troops in jungle warfare are also part of the total strength of the Central forces to be deployed for the task.
The Cabinet Committee on Security had already approved the government’s new plan to counter Maoists under which the affected states will have an effective coordination and the police will take a lead role.
The anti-Naxal plan also includes Rs 7,300 crore package for unleashing developmental works in areas cleared off the Left-wing extremists.
Officials feel that the Naxal menace, which has now spread to 40,000 sq km area across the country, can be wiped out in a period of 12 to 30 months.
Around 25 lakh people live in areas where Maoists are now having a free run. The Naxalites have killed more than 2,600 people, including civilians, in 5,800 incidents in last three years.
The highest number of incidents of violence has taken place in four states — Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa — where 2,212 people lost their lives from January 2006 to August this year. According to the Home Ministry, Naxalism has spread to 20 states with over 2,000 police station areas in 223 districts partially or substantially affected.
— PTI
