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Saturday, Oct 16, 2004

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India to take up militant camp issue with Bangladesh

By Our Staff Reporter

MANESAR (HARYANA), OCT. 15. The Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, today said the Government would "privately" take up the issue of militant camps in Bangladesh during the next summit of the South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation (SAARC).

Talking to mediapersons here after inaugurating an anti-hijacking training centre of the National Security Guards, he expressed concern over the presence of militant camps in Bangladesh. He said countries across the globe, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, were now realising that terrorism was a double-edged sword.

To queries on the coming together of the People's War and the Maoist Communist Centre of IndiaMr. Patil said, "On the one hand, we can infer that both are ready for the peace process. On the other, if the peace process derails, things might become difficult."

`Ready for talks'

Reiterating that the Government was ready to hold talks with any extremist group to remove their "misunderstanding," he said: "There are several ways to solve the problems plaguing the nation. One is to talk to all groups, and if someone feels that economic and social justice have not been done, then steps have to be taken in this regard."

About the recent ceasefire announcement by the National Democratic Front of Boroland, Mr. Patil said the Government was ready for peace talks. "But first they have to talk to the Assam Government and at the moment, they are making full preparations for that."

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