Naxals: States differ with Patil remedy

Union Home Minister Shivaj Patil and chief ministers of Naxalite-affected states differed on the steps needed to tackle the problem.While Pa...

Union Home Minister Shivaj Patil and chief ministers of Naxalite-affected states differed on the steps needed to tackle the problem.

While Patil wanted the states to take initiatives on their own, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and others stressed the need for a national policy on combating the menace. ‘‘If one state is allowed freedom in dealing with the problem, it might create trouble for others,’’ Patnaik observed.

The conference, convened at the initiative of Patil, was attended by AP Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Jharkhand CM Arjun Munda. Some other states were represented by ministers or senior officials.

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Patil is understood to have left the decision on arms to the state government but cautioned Reddy that the PWG might utilise the peace period for consolidation. He reportedly asked other states to act in coordination.

Supporting Patnaik, Arjun Munda said the Centre should take the initiative rather than ask states to deal with the problem. Chhattisgarh Home Minister Brij Mohan Agarwal pointed out that a dozen states were facing a single group of Naxalites. ‘‘Unless we have uniform policy, the problem cannot be solved,’’ he said.