M A I N   N E W S

Fighting Naxals
Two-pronged strategy to continue: PC
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 23
Home Minister P. Chidambaram today reiterated that the government will continue to follow its two-pronged approach on dealing with the Naxal problem-development and calibrated police action. Speaking at a meeting of the consultative committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs today, the Home Minister said. He said the debate on what should take place first- development or police action- is misplaced. The decision will have to vary from situation-to-situation and from state-to-state. “No fixed prescription is possible”, he told the members of the committee comprising MPs.

In some areas, it may be possible to undertake some development activities, to be followed by steps to strengthen security. In other areas, it may be necessary to first launch police action to regain control , followed by vigorous development activities.