Explaining Centre's "two pronged" policy to tackle Left

Wing Extremism (LWE), the Prime Minister said, "Even as we have intensified operations against the extremists, we have also endeavoured to bridge the development and governance deficit in these areas, many of which have predominantly tribal population." Listing the steps taken by the Government, Singh said they include deploying additional central forces, raising specialised forces, strengthening police stations and imparting training to state police personnel in counter insurgency, jungle warfare and anti-terrorism operations. The Prime Minister agreed on the need for "greater inter-state coordination in operations against Left Wing Extremists", emphasised by Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan. "One cannot agree more with him," he said. Singh said the Integrated Action Plan for 82 select and backward districts, most of which are affected by LWE, is beginning to show encouraging results. "Road connectivity in these districts is also being improved. We have also taken steps to streamline the process for vesting of forest rights under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act to the entitled people," he said. He stressed that "much more remains to be done and we will make all efforts to accomplish what we still have to do." Singh said 2012 saw clear signs of improvement in the internal security situation, including in Jammu and Kashmir, the North East and LWE-affected areas. "However, there is a lot which still needs to be done. The Home Minister has briefed us of our plan of action to meet challenges such as terrorism and LWE, which have both external and internal dimensions," he said. (MORE)