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No difference between naxalism, terrorism: Minister

"Naxals frustrated with `Salwa Judum'; anti-naxal movement not halted"

Bhopal: Chhattisgarh Revenue and Culture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal on Tuesday pointed out that little difference has been left between naxal menace and terrorism.

"Though naxalism is traced to economic and social causes, it has been reduced to an activity much like terrorism aimed at spreading fear and terror," Mr Agrawal, who was here on a day's visit, told reporters.

He said the recent spurt in violence targeting innocent people by naxals, who were frustrated with spontaneous anti-naxal `Salwa Judum' movement, proved that there was no difference between terrorism and naxalism. Mr Agrawal said the movement has not been halted, as no spontaneous movement ever does. He said the naxal problem was spread across 16 States and could be dealt with Centre's initiative by developing a coordinated strategy.

The Minister said police faced difficulties in tackling naxals due to lack of training in guerilla and jungle warfare.

However, steps were being taken to deal with the problem and an institution -- third of its kind in the country -- has come up in Kanker district in Chhattisgarh to impart training in guerilla and jungle warfare.

He denied impact on flow of visitors at tourist spots due to naxal activities and added that the Chhattisgarh Government will shortly enter into tourism exchange-related agreements with Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Orissa governments.

Communist Party of India (Maoist), strongly opposed to setting up of mega projects, favoured small industrial units which will not pose any threat to resources in tribal Bastar region, a top Naxal leader said in Abujhmarh, Chhattisgarh on Tuesday.

Speaking at a formal `press meet', CPI (Maoist) Central Committee member Kosa said the present development model of encouraging mega industrial units would only help siphon off the vast natural resources of the region as its benefits would not percolate down to the locals.

Maoists oppose mega projects

"It's not development. It is an express highway to speed up exploitation," said Kosa, who is also the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee Secretary.

Claiming that the mining operations of the NMDC in Bailadila had only resulted in the rich iron ore from the region being exported to Japan for the last many years, he said, "What they have left for the local people are just air and water pollution."

Kosa said the people of Bastar have realised that these projects were not in their long-term interests. These major companies, which use modern technology, would not be in a position to give employment to local people while the domestic small units would be able to generate more employment opportunities as they required more manpower, he argued.

Kosa said the poor living in the remote villages and forests of Bastar region require basic amenities like drinking water, health and education facilities and land for cultivation.

"There are several hundred schools and health centres in the villages where teachers and doctors do not report for duty but collect their salaries even without visiting their place of posting," the Maoist leader said.

"If the Government wants development, it should first address these issues," he said and promised to extend all possible help to teachers and health workers. --UNI

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No difference between naxalism, terrorism: Minister

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