The Hindu : National : Late admission of naxal threat: BJP

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Wednesday, Sep 06, 2006

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National

Late admission of naxal threat: BJP

Special Correspondent

Party meet to focus on internal security

NEW DELHI : Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Arun Jaitley on Tuesday charged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with belatedly acknowledging the seriousness of the threat to internal security posed by naxal violence.

So far, the magnitude of the problem had been ignored by the United Progressive Alliance that had, in fact, tried to forge alliances with various extreme Left organisations in different States, he added.

Mr. Jaitley indicated that the three-day party national executive committee meeting in Dehra Dun from September 7 would focus on internal security, including naxalism and terrorism, and the agrarian crisis that was driving farmers to suicide.

He said no political resolution would be adopted as the political situation would be covered by the opening address of party president Rajnath Singh. The Vande Mataram controversy would also figure in Mr. Singh's address.

There is a strong view in the BJP that ahead of the Assembly elections in four States early next year, the party should focus strongly on people-oriented bread and butter issues and problems arising out of threats to internal security that directly affected people. Leaders feel that other issues only serve to divert attention.

Mr. Jaitley said it was common knowledge that there was a Maoist corridor from Nepal to the heart of India, and as many as 13 States were now in the grip of naxal violence. The nature of the attacks was different from other acts of terrorism in that sometimes "hordes of people" participate in them, sometimes successfully taking over police stations, jails, government offices and even entire villages and towns. Naxalism was somewhat controlled in the 1970s, but now it was a major problem, he said.

A special session at the executive meet would be devoted to terrorism and the naxal problem, Mr. Jaitley said, noting that, for the first time, Dr. Singh had virtually admitted that intelligence gathering was poor and the naxal problem was in danger of getting out of hand.

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