Buddha rules out talks with Naxals

Visiting this Naxal-hit district in West Bengal, he ruled out talks with them till they surrendered their arms and abjured violence.

Bhattacharjee also maintained that the law and order situation in Naxal-affected Lalgarh and adjacent areas has improved. But more work needed to be done.

Bhattacharjee, who met top civil and police officials of Naxal-hit West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts, also alleged that opposition Trinamool Congress and some NGOs were hand in glove with the Maoists, and said it was “pathetic” that a major party has  “links” with a banned group.

“There is no possibility of speaking with the Maoists or the PCPA. They must lay down their arms and abjure violence and that is the primary condition set by the Centre,” he told reporters when asked if the government will talk to Naxalites.

To a question whether West Bengal is part of any joint anti-Maoist operation, Bhattacharjee, who was winding up his two-day visit to West Midnapore, said: “The operation does not cover West Bengal. It is for the other three states. We can handle the problem by ourselves.

“They have sent us forces, that is enough. Earlier, it was 17 companies, now they have sent us another 6 companies, it is enough for our operations,” he said.  “I am not waiting for the Centre. We are getting only inputs from the Central government, intelligence inputs and forces. With that we are ready to start the operation.”