Terror threat to internal security remains: PC

Stating that the epicenter of terror in the country is in the neighbourhood, Union Home
Replying to a debate on a discussion on the demands for grants under the control of Ministry of Home Affairs, Chidambaram said the Maoist violence within the country will have to be dealt firmly by first taking control of the so-called “liberated zones” in Jharkhand, Orissa, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and “in two-three districts in West Bengal.”

Amidst protests from CPM member Basudev Acharya, the minister said the Left in West Bengal had for long avoided taking action against the Naxals maintaining that the latter were fighting “class enemies.” Now they are paying a price in Lalgarh, he said.

Chidambaram said a police station which was taken over by Maoists could not be opened up by the State government until CRPF was deployed there. The first step towards dealing with the left wing violence would be to free the areas from under Maoist control.

The Minister said threats to internal security “have not diminished” with security forces in tandem with intelligence exposing a number of “potential” terror plots during the last seven months.

Army to stay put in J&K

On the Jammu and Kashmir front, Chidambaram said the army will continue to stay in Jammu and Kashmir for counter-terrorism operations.

Chidambaram was responding to BJP leader Sushma Swaraj’s charge that the home ministry was seeking to withdraw 23 battalions of para-military forces from J&K.

Earlier in the day Swaraj while speaking in the Lok Sabha, said budget allocation was very meagre. Chidambaram contradicted Swaraj, saying, “I know how to take money and how to give money,” amidst peels of laughter. 

Speaking about North-East extremist violence, the minister said it has external-linkages with extremists getting safe havens in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal.