Every option available with the Government of India including deployment of Army would be exercised to free every inch of the country from the Maoist menace, asserted Union Minister of State for Home Nityananda Rai here on Sunday.
“Naxal-prone areas in the country are shrinking by the day and there has been a drastic reduction in the cadres of Leftwing extremism,” he said and urged the Maoists to change themselves and lead a “peaceful dignified life.
Speaking to reporters after attending a meeting organised by the Utkal Yadav Mahasabha, the Union Minister said that over the past five years, the security forces have ensured minimising Maoist threats and there has been a significant drop in their attacks.
“Our paramilitary forces are deployed in sufficient numbers in each of the few Maoist pockets now left and the
Army is being used for this purpose wherever necessary,” he said.
The Minister warned that if the ultras do not pay heed to the Government‘s initiative of transforming their ways by accepting the attractive rehabilitation scheme, the Centre would be forced to weigh the option of using the Army to crush them.
