Naxals strong in non-Congress ruled states: Jairam Ramesh

Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has said that Naxalism is strong only in those states where Congress is not in power.

Addressing a 'Parivartan Rally' in Bordha village of Dhar district yesterday, Ramesh said: "Naxalism is strong only in those states where Congress is not in power like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha among others."

According to television reports, he however said that in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh Naxalism was not becoming strong as Congress and its organisation is stronger in the state.

Maoists have significantly increased their presence in tribal and rural regions in the states of Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha.

The Maoists say they are fighting for the rights of millions of landless labourers and marginal farmers. However, the government has termed them to be the main internal security threat and an obstacle to growth in Asia"s third-largest economy.