Rajnath makes ‘aggressive’ anti-Naxal pitch
NEW DELHI: Buffeted by a string of deadly attacks on security forces engaged in anti-Naxal operations, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday pitched for an aggressive strategy to quell Maoist rebels which should instill “fear” in them.
He asked the states affected by Maoist violence to “take ownership” of the operations launched against the Left extremists, while insisting on effective steps to “choke” their finances.
“We have to bring aggression in our policy, there should be aggression in our thinking, aggression in our strategy, aggression in the deployment of security forces, aggression in operations, aggression in bringing development, aggression in road construction.
“We will have to be cautious that extremely defensive deployment may result in reduction of operational offensive,” he said in his inaugural address to a conclave of chief ministers and top officers of 10 Maoist-hit states, a fortnight after 25 Central Reserve Police Force personnel were massacred by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district.
“We have to ensure that the states take the ownership in the anti-Naxal operations where Central Armed Police Force will cooperate fully,” he said in a tough message to underground Naxal outfits that have continually inflicted casualties on security forces.
Economic resources, he said, play an important role in any war -- only when money is available is it possible to buy, eat, drink and possess ammunition and weapons. “Therefore, choking the financial resources of the left wing extremists is the most basic mantra in this fight,” he said.
Maoist rebels are known to extort money from contractors engaged in almost all development projects being executed in areas they hold sway which they call “levy”.