CHENNAI: Bharatiya Janata Party leader M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday called for a comprehensive policy to tackle the naxalite problem.

Referring to the killing of 27 Salwa Judum activists by Maoists in Chhattisgarh on Monday, Mr. Naidu told mediapersons here that there had to be joint efforts by the Centre and States to solve the problem. Besides, there should be coordination among the affected States. This was needed as naxalites positioned themselves in one State but carried out offensives in another State. He said that during the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance regime, a coordination committee was formed. "Our Government had sanctioned sophisticated arms and communication network." As the Rural Development Minister, he had provided special funds for naxalite violence-hit areas.

Criticising the Centre for its "casual attitude" towards incidents of killings by naxalites, Mr. Naidu said the Nepal episode should be an eye-opener.Asked to respond on the observations of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on the utility of the now-defunct Prevention of Terrrorism Act (POTA), Mr. Naidu said that terrorists used all types of tactics and they were aided by forces outside the border. Moreover, they were not "open people." Existing laws were not adequate to handle them effectively. This necessitated a special law.

He urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to come out with a "stringent law" and not to stand on "false prestige." "If the Congress has any reservations to the name, POTA, let them have a different name for any such law." The BJP proposed a protest programme to highlight issues concerning price rise and farmers' suicide. For the next one week, fasts would be observed throughout the country.

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