States hit by Left extremism to take joint action: Chidambaram

Raipur, Jan 19 (PTI) All seven states in India hit by
Left wing extremism have agreed on a "joint action" to
confront the menace "firmly and decisively" and the Centre
will provide them full support in terms of security forces and
funds, India's Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has said.

He said that all the seven states hit by Left wing
extremism -- Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Bihar and West Bengal -- had so far adopted
different approaches but what was needed was a joint plan
where the "principal focus is on confronting the extremists".

"Left wing extremists have to be confronted squarely
and boldly. We have to deal with them firmly and decisively",
Chidambaram told reporters here after his meeting with
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and senior state
government officials on the naxal issue yesterday evening.

"Broadly, the strategy of Chhattisgarh, it seems, is
working as I am told that nearly 40 percent of the area has
been regained (from naxals' hold) whereas confrontation with
the extremists are going on in another 20 percent area.
However, the extremists have got an upper hand in the rest 40
per cent area," the home minister said.

He said chief ministers of all the seven states hit by
Left wing extremism have agreed on a "joint action" to deal
with the problem and said it was a significant development.

"I will be visiting all these states to know better
about the problem of left wing extremism, Chhattisgarh being
the first where I have visited today," he added.

Fielding a question on the controversial Salwa Judum
(peace campaign) in Chhattisgarh, Chidambaram said the
Chhattisgarh chief minister had told him that it was "a
spontaneous movement of tribals and the third such movement
since 1991."

To a question on Salwa Judum activists taking law into
their hands, the union home minister said the Chhattisgarh
government and the chief minister have assured him that all
actions are being taken by security forces.

"The Chief minister and the government have assured me
that actions are being taken by security forces in the areas
of Left wing extremism," Chidambaram said, adding "action must
remain in the hands of security forces."

Chidambaram said his visit to Chhattisgarh was part of
his commitment made to chief ministers of the naxal-affected
states at a meeting in New Delhi in January 7. PTI RM
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