Act tough on Maoists, leaders tell govt

Clear mandate: All-party meet passes resolution to tackle menace

An all-party meeting convened by the UPA to fight Maoist menace in the country ended on Monday on a positive note. Leaders from all parties unanimously resolved that they “shall remain united and shall speak in one voice and act with a sense of unified purpose and will”.

The meeting took place at 7 Race Course Road, the residence of the Prime Minister.

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde is said to have given a presentation on the Maoist problem and the efforts being made to contain it in the 82 affected districts spread over nine states — Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Through the resolution passed after the meeting, all parties appealed to the affected states youths to abjure violence and pursue their goals through legitimate and democratic means. “We assure them that the state governments will be sensitive to their concerns and redress any sense of alienation and the injustices of the past. We will make every effort to accelerate development, social inclusion and economic empowerment,” said the resolution.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his opening remark, promised the Centre’s assistance to tackle the Maoists who, by virtue of targeting the Congress state leadership on May 25 in Chhattisgarh, has attempted to restrict political activity through fear or terror.

“We believe that there is urgency in the need to effectively deal with the Maoist menace. Even as we take all measures that are needed to permanently root out this menace, we must immediately ensure that Maoist violence is held in check and attacks like the one in Chhattisgarh do not recur,” Singh told the gathering.

After the meeting, Shinde told reporters, “We are considering strong action against the Maoist. All the parties have asked us to take the strictest action.”

BSP chief Mayawati told reporters that the governments have to first understand the reason behind the problems that lead to Maoism, and then find a solution.

“People from the weaker sections of society have acted under duress. The problem will be solved only when these people get their due,” said the former chief minister of UP.

The government reiterated its two-pronged strategy of dealing with the Maoists, which is through sustained operations to clear the areas of cadres’ influence, and pursuing the objectives of effective governance and rapid development.