Congress legislators from Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra have raised an alarm over the rising activities of Naxal groups in the district. They have also expressed serious concern over the growing death threats and warnings from Naxal groups to elected representatives seeking their resignation from their respective posts.
Congress legislator Namdeo Usendi and an independent supporting the Congress-led government in the state, Deepak Atram, have expressed displeasure at the way the district and state administrations are tackling the growing Naxal activities and neglecting the implementation of development works.
Usendi, who was elected to the state assembly from Gadchiroli in 2009, told Business Standard, "The state government has little time to look into our problems, especially when there has been abduction and killings of members of local bodies in our district. We will take a delegation of the party legislators and senior members to Delhi to seek urgent assistance from the prime minister, the home minister, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi."
Usendi, who has been receiving threats from Naxal groups, clarified he would neither migrate nor stop pursuing development of the district.
“What is needed is an integrated development plan to curb Naxal activities, especially by focusing on development and thereby, bringing the people into mainstream. This is missing and, therefore, during our Delhi visit we will insist on such a comprehensive plan," he said.
An additional director general of police, requesting anonymity, said a joint action plan was at present being implemented by the state and central governments. "Attention is being paid on the availability of more and more security personnel and weapons," he said.
Usendi said it was ironical that junior level security personnel were sent for Naxal operations and this needs to be changed.
"We have been making efforts to bring such anomalies to the notice of the state home department, but there has been little improvement. Senior officials of the rank of superintendent of police, deputy inspector general of police, special inspector general of police and additional director general of police need to be deployed for proper coordination," he said.
He said despite announcement of allocation of Rs 100 crore for various developmental works last year, no money was spent.
"There has been backlog of irrigation projects. Besides, a villager has to go at least 15 to 20 km to visit a primary health centre. There have been very little efforts from the administration to promote agriculture and agriculture-related activities, including animal husbandry, dairy development and agricultural industry.
The government will have to take up developmental works on a war-footing as the security operations alone will not resolve the Naxal issue," he said.
