Centre, states must join hands to curb violence by Maoists, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He was addressing the chief ministers' conference on internal security in New Delhi on Wednesday.

He said that Naxal violence has no place in democracy. “The government is willing to talk to all extremist groups within the ambit of Constitution”, he said. He added that 2012 saw significant improvement in security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Prime Minister also said that the centre and state governments must ensure setting up of institutional mechanism for safety of women and children, especially in urban areas.

Home Minister Shushilkumar Shinde expressed concerns over ISI's involvement in reviving Sikh militancy in Punjab.

Jaya, Mamata skips

Meanwhile Tamil Nadu Cheif Minister J Jayalalitha and  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee skipped the chief ministers' meeting on internal security convened by the Centre.