Naxal issue: BJP seeks comprehensive strategy from govt

Says misguided policies of the govt have made the issue assume such proportions

Ahead of the all-party meet called by the government to discuss the naxal situation, BJP today said it will serve no purpose unless a comprehensive strategy is devised to deal with the problem.

The main opposition party alleged that naxalism had spread over the last nine years because of "Congress' encouragement to the Maoist ideology."

"The all-party meeting has been called by the government on June 10. It will serve no purpose till a comprehensive strategy is unveiled to deal with the problem of naxalism," BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said after the issue came up at its National Executive meeting here against the backdrop of the recent Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh.

The meeting condoled the death of Congress leaders and security personnel killed last month in Bastar, he said.

In his inaugural address to the meeting, BJP President Rajnath Singh said the "misguided policies of the government on the issues of terrorism and naxalism have assumed such proportions where terrorism has grown manifold due to its appeasement policy and lack of political will. And naxalism has risen due to the failure of the government on several fronts."

He alleged that the "Congress has done great harm to the democracy and the interest of the poor tribals by extending ideological cover to naxalism...To sympathise with these naxals is against the national interest."

Noting that naxalism has spread to 200 districts across 16 states with nearly 40% of the country being under its influence, Singh said, "unless there is an integrated approach, there will be no permanent solution to both the problems.