Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said the Government will commit all resources at its disposal to eradicate left Wing Extremism (lWE) from the country. Addressing the Consultative Committee of Parliament, Singh said while the stress would be on strict implementation of law and order, the Centre would ensure the ‘jal, jameen and jungle’ rights of the tribals and necessary consultations with the concerned Ministries are being carried out.
“Home Minister said that the Centre has adopted a four-pronged strategy with the lWE affected States to tackle the Maoist threat comprising of security related interventions, development, securing rights and entitlements to the largely tribal hit population and public perception management. The MHA has taken a number of steps to improve the capacity of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and State police forces including the raising of the India Reserve Battalions (IRBs). The Home Minister mentioned that over hundred battalions of CAPFs and 10 COBRA (Commando Battalions for Resolute Action) battalions have been deployed for anti-lWE operations,” said the Ministry in a statement.
In a presentation on lWE to the parliamentarians, details were provided about monitoring mechanism, security related measures such as modernisation of State police forces, security related expenditure, construction of 400 fortified police stations, setting up of 21 counter-insurgency and anti-terrorist (CIAT) schools, recruitment in CAPFs, creation of unified commands in the States and an effective media plan. The development related measures such as implementation of flagship programmes and the rights of Scheduled Tribes and traditional forest dwellers and implementation of Panchayats’ extension to scheduled areas Act was also discussed at the meeting.
The MPs discussed various aspects of left Wing Extremism ranging from economic development, security, causes and effects of the problem, ideology, coordination between Central and State security forces and lack of communication in the affected States. The issues of corruption, atrocities on tribals and women and the status of the constitution of the National Tribal Welfare Council were also mentioned. The Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju, also spoke on this occasion and thanked the members for giving valuable inputs.