Adding new dimension to the divergent views within the ruling Congress over tackling Naxal menace, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday said the Left-wing extremists are political elements out to capture power and the issue of development was “more imaginary than actual.”
Mr Mukherjee said, “Development is needed. Lack of development may swell their (Naxals) cadre. But they do not run charitable institutions ...They are political elements and want to capture the power of the state.”
Recent months have witnessed Congress leaders like Digvijay Singh and Keshav Rao differing with the approach of home minister P. Chidambaram with Mr Singh emphasising that it should not be merely treated as a law and order problem.
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‘Political connectivity to solve Naxal issue’
Kolkata, Sept. 16: Noting that Naxalism was a result of complex set of circumstances, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said political connectivity should be ensured to bring Naxals into the mainstream.
“we have to ensure political connectivity so that the people can be part of the national political mainstream,” he said. —PTI