Raman Singh for dialogue with Naxal leadership

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh wants a dialogue with Maoists and believes most thorny issues including Naxalism can be resolved through development.

In an interview to PTI/Bhasha, a day before five Chhattisgarh Police personnel were killed and two others injured when Naxals blew up their vehicle in Dantewada district, Singh said his government would be ready for talks with the Maoists if their leaders took take part in the meeting.

"We are ready for a dialogue with the top leadership of Naxals but it should include their politburo members then only some conclusive talks can take place," he said.

Singh, who is touring the state under a programme called 'Vikas Yatra', said the Centre and state government were making efforts to bring development to Naxal-affected areas.

Efforts were also on to strengthen communication networks in these areas and to bring people into the mainstream through development, he said.

National and state highways are being constructed which have led to a fall in Naxal activities, the chief minister said.

In the 2013 Assembly elections, Singh said, "The Congress had won more seats in Naxal-hit Bastar region but this time we will get much better results."