Chhattisgarh, the state worst affected by Naxal violence, has urged the Centre to formulate a comprehensive policy to deal with left-wing extremism and to take steps to initiate a dialogue with the rebels.
“Naxal violence can only be contained with the active involvement of the Central government. We are open to a dialogue with the Naxals and would support the Centre in all its endeavours if it initiates any peace talks,” Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh told this newspaper.
“We are implementing a liberal surrender policy. We have said that if there is any initiative for talks, Chhattisgarh would not shy away from it. But the key issue is if you are inviting someone for talks, he has to have faith in democracy. One can’t sit in a dialogue by holding guns in his hand,” he said.
Mr Singh said he has no hesitation in keeping the option of dialogue always open. He added that a solution to this problem is possible but it could take a lot many years before violence ends permanently.
He stated the government has initiated several steps for the betterment of people in Naxal-affected districts. “We have laid special emphasis on the development of educational institutes, construction of tribal hostels and development of vocational skills amongst the tribal population of the districts worst affected by the violence. This is part of the ongoing process through which we want to help solve the issue,” he stated.
He acceded that some areas of the state were being controlled by Maoist extremists. “There are some pockets like the Abujhmad (literally meaning unknown forests) in the Bastar region,” he said.
On the ongoing controversy over coal block allocation and the Congress raising fingers about his government’s role in the process, Mr Singh stated that his government had only recommendatory role in the entire process. “It is for the Central screening committee to go through the recommendations made by the state governments and make or not make any coal block allocation,” he added.