Anti-naxal measures,but action must follow

The nation has been confronting the naxal menace for decades. Government comes and go but it is spreading very fast. It is good that Home Minister P Chidambram has said that the naxal menace will be finished in three years and for that he has made a two - pronged strategy. It is also to be seen how he would be able to deliver on his promise.Overhauling security measures to deal with naxal violence is a must but at the same time the government irrespective of party affiliation will also have to break the nexus between naxals and political parties in naxal-affected states for political benefits, and ensure the development is carried out on the ground. One thing also to be borne in mind with all seriousness is that the government of the day at Centre and states must not defame the tribals to cover its own failures in dealing with naxal menace. Naxals have neither any caste nor any community. They are man eaters so they should be dealt as such. The govt has chalked anti-naxal measures and it is confident of overcoming the Maoist problem in the next three years with a two-pronged strategy of initiating development and police action in the affected areas. Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Home Affairs Home Minister P Chidambaram has expressed confidence that the challenge of left wing extremism would be met jointly by the central and state governments,addressing a meeting of the Parliamentary.While the Central government acknowledged that the primary role and responsibility was that of state governments in enforcing law and order in confronting the challenge of left wing extremists, it also claims to have recognised its responsibility in assisting the states in every way..Naxal violence has claimed the lives of over 10,000 civilians and security personnel in the last five years.Out of a total of 10,268 casualties between 2005 and May this year, 2,372 deaths have been reported in 2009 as against 1,769 in 2008 and 1,737 in 2007. To minimise reaction time of anti-Naxal operations, the govt has authorised a special group of officers posted in such terrains to requisition BSF helicopters rather than route the request through state police.According to HM, the powers for requisition of BSF helicopters have been delegated to the IG (Ops) CRPF of the state concerned.The move is set to bolster the campaign against the Maoists as, till now, the state police could ask for the helicopters after consultation with CRPF Special Director General and commander of anti-Naxal operations.The recently appointed CRPF Inspector General level officers are deployed in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal, where a new Unified Command will also be set up.The Union Home Ministry meanwhile has sanctioned Rs 45 lakh for procurement of 30 satellite phones for the Border Security Force.Satellite phones are crucial for security forces as at times they operate in thick jungles and forward areas where normal mobile connections don’t work.All the measures that the Central government has taken are good but how it is implemented is in the hands of states, though naxal menace is not a state subject like law and order that Centre can not interfere with it. So, Centre must also rise above political affiliations and interfere with states to wipe out naxalism. As Naxals believe in the saying that power flows from the barrel of the gun, they must be given reply in the same coin.