Drop arms for talks: Centre to militants

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Friday said that the government would deal firmly with insurgency.

He added that the Centre was willing to conduct an honest and meaningful dialogue with any group that shuns violence before engaging in talks.

Addressing the Chief Ministers Conference on Internal Security and Law and Order, he said the challenge of terrorism must be faced squarely and resolutely by all political parties.

"There can be no political compromise with terror," he said. The PM dwelt on infiltration by extremists in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency in the North East and the threat posed by naxalism.

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He observed that internal security was the 'biggest national security challenge' and asked the chief ministers to pay the highest attention in dealing with this.

Singh noted that notwithstanding the recent terrorists attempt to disturb the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, the people of Jammu and Kashmir gave a great welcome to the government's efforts.