Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said here on Saturday that the Centre was successfully tackling Maoist insurgency related violence in the country and the present situation was the “best” in over a decade-and-a-half. Union Home Minister reiterated that the Centre was ready to hold talks with the Naxal outfits if they shun the path of violence and laid down their arms.
“If you compare the situation in Chhattisgarh with previous years, the situation is far better and well under control. We have been successful in controlling the problem and will continue with that. The situation today is best in the past 15-16 years...one can see the statistics,” he said in lucknow while talking to reporters when asked if the Centre has effectively reined in left Wing Extremism.
“In the past I have said that the government is ready to talk with interested parties, but first they have to leave the path of violence and lay down their weapons,” Singh said. He was responding to a question about the recent Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district which left seven jawans dead on March 30.
Regarding the delay in formation of BJP-PDP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir and whether it does not send out a message of “political instability”, Rajnath said, “forming a coalition government sometimes take time”.
“Every coalition has its own compulsions. You have to create consensus. As far as BJP-PDP coalition government is concerned I am confident that it will prove true to the expectations of the people of the state,” he said.
To a query that at a time when all political parties were trying to woo Dalits would the Centre implement reservation in promotion for SC and ST, the Union Minister said BJP does not indulge in politics of caste and religion and was working to build a strong India by taking all sections along.
On UP government’s allegation regarding non-cooperation by the Centre in drought-hit Bundelkhand region, he said every state should first discharge its responsibility. “Whatever support is required will be given. It had been done so in the past as well. The Centre has hiked states’ share in central taxes from 32 per cent to 42 per cent, which in itself is a historic step. The allegation of non-cooperation is baseless,” he said.
Earlier, at an awareness programme for Pradhan Mantri crop insurance scheme at the Indian cane research institute, Rajnath Singh said the government was working for the betterment of farmers and efforts were underway to help them double their income.
Rajnath Singh, the local MP is on a three day tour of his lok Sabha constituency participated in several holi Milan programme. Earlier in the day Rajnath Singh inaugurated a programme of the Micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) organized by the laghu Udyog Bharti. He also inaugurated a skill development programme at the Integral University on Kursi road. He will leave for Delhi on Sunday.