Jharkhand to be included in operations against Naxalites

Jharkhand will be included in the joint operations against the Naxalites after the Centre discusses the issue with the state government later next week.

As of now, three states including Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Orissa have been engaged in the joint operation. At a high level meeting held here today, Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren was not invited. The meeting chaired by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram was attended by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil.

The government in Jharkhand was new and hence it was not been invited in the meeting, Chidambaram said after the meeting. The Centre had, however, invited Soren for a discussion on the issue.

Chidambaram said Soren and top officials would be coming to New Delhi on January 28. After holding talks and discussion on the issues, Jharkhand would be included in the on-going anti-Naxal operation, Chidambaram said.

The development assumes significance as Soren had been allegedly going soft on the Naxalites. This was underlined by the Jharkhand government's reported decision of stopping operation against the extremists.

Regarding the Jharkhand government's decision to stop the offensive against the Naxalites, Chidambaram said the matter would be discussed in the proposed meeting with the state Chief Minister and officials.

He said there was no dispute nor it would come as a stumbling block in the on-going operation against the Naxalites. Andhra Pradesh was also coordinating in the operation against the Naxalites with the other affected states, he added.

Andhra Pradesh has a vast experience in dealing with the Naxal menace, Chidambaram said, adding that there was no dispute between Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.