Mumbai: The government is determined to take "effective measures" against Maoist guerrillas but won’t use the military against them, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday.
Singh, at a press conference in Mumbai, said the Naxals were the biggest internal security threat but the government is willing to hold talks with them if they abjured violence.
"They (Naxals) are banned organisations and are covered under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act," he said when asked if the government proposed to declare the ultra-left groups as terrorist organisations.
"We are not in favour of using the armed forces against the Naxalites. The para-military forces and police are adequate (for operations against Naxals)," he said.
Asked about the beheading of a police officer by the rebels in Jharkhand, Singh said the "evil designs" of the Maoists were well known. "The government is aware of their evil designs. We will take effective measures to counter them."
The Prime Minister said there was no credible information that the Maoists were linked to external forces. "There are always rumours afloat. But there is no credible intelligence pointing in that direction."
Singh said that the government is taking all steps to deal with the menace of Naxalism. "Naxalism is the greatest internal threat. In months to come, there will be positive results on the Naxal front.”
"Why the Naxalites alone, the government is prepared to have a dialogue with even the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir if they abjure violence," he said.
Comments
0 comment