Centre should take states on board to curb Red menace: Rajnath

Naxal menace could be effectively tackled only if Centre takes concerned state governments and common people into confidence, BJP president Rajnath Singh said today.

"Centre should take all state governments into confidence and prepare a comprehensive action plan (against Naxalism) and implement it in effective manner, or else the problem of Naxalism will become more serious," he said.

Singh's remark came in the wake of Saturday's Naxal attack in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh in which 27 people, including state Congress leaders, were killed.
He was speaking to reporters at Raipur airport after visiting the family members of Congress leader Mahendra Karma.

Singh was accompanied by Chief Minister Raman Singh during his visit to the village, located around 500 km from here in South Bastar.

"Centre should coordinate with states to strengthen intelligence as it is not only the state's responsibility to strengthen intelligence. Centre should also take people of the country into confidence," the BJP president said.

Responding to a query, he said, "The judicial enquiry has been ordered and we should wait for its decision."

On opposition Congress' decision to stay away from an all-party meeting convened by the chief minister tomorrow in the wake of the strike, he said such incidents should not be made into a political issue.

"At a time when country is facing challenge of Naxalism, everyone should unite in such critical times", he said.