New Delhi, Feb 25: There is no evidence to suggest that any breakaway Maoist group in Nepal is collaborating with Indian Naxalites, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
"There is no firm evidence of any breakaway group in Nepal collaborating with Naxalites here," Home Minister P Chidamabram said replying to a supplementary during the Question Hour.
He also denied any Naxal activities on the Indo-Nepal border, but maintained that the government is vigilant.
Asserting that government would take firm action against Naxals, Chidambaram, however, said it would welcome and rehabilitate any Naxalite if he wants to return to mainstream.
Naxalites are the "worst enemy" of development as they are targeting schools, telephone towers and other infrastructure, he said and added that they are motivated by "misguided" philosophy.
The Minister also said that the aim of Naxalites is to overthrow an established government through armed struggle, and they are not for development.
When Shreegopal Vyas (BJP) wanted to know how the government would fight Left-wing extremism when it took support of the Left, the members of the Left parties protested.
At that point, Chidambaram said "there is a grave error
in the question." He urged the members not to mix up Left wing
extremism with the Left parties, who are also against Naxalite
activities.
The Minister also said Chhatisgarh is the `ground zero`
for Naxal operation as it is surrounded by states where there
is presence of Naxalites.
But, he said: "We will gain upper hand in Chhatisgarh
soon." He assured the House that the Centre would provide full
support to the state in terms of number of paramilitary
troops, weapons and funds for development.
The Minister also placed data on security personnel
killed in Naxal operations and arms looted from police
stations in 2007 and 2008.
A total of 467 police personnel were killed in Naxal
violence in 2007 and 2008, he said.
He said while 1131 weapons were looted by Naxalites, 1511
weapons were recovered from them during 2008 from
Naxal-affected states.
Bureau Report
