No talks, fight against Naxals to intensify: Chhattisgarh CM

Ruling out any dialogue with naxalites, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said that fight against Left wing extremists will be intensified in the coming days.

"The recent Naxal attack in the state has ruled out any option of dialogue with them. There will be no talks. The fight against naxalites will be intensified," Singh told PTI.

He said the Chhattisgarh government will coordinate with the Centre to seek any technological support like deployment of advanced equipment to detect Improvised Explosive Device and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.

"Whatever technological support is needed, we will take from the Centre," Singh said.

Terming the May 25 Maoist attack in Bastar region as a step carried out in frustration, the chief minister said that the state government will continue to do development work despite the threats posed by them.

"Maoists are anti-development. The recent attack shows that it was an attempt out of frustration to gain limelight. The government will take appropriate strict measures to check such attempts," he said.

The chief minister of the BJP-ruled state denied any "intelligence failure" by central and state security agencies on the Naxals attack which killed senior Congress leader Mahendra Karma, an architect of 'Salwa Judum' (anti-Naxal vigilante group), State Pradesh Congress Chief Nand Kumar Patel and his son Dinesh among 27 people.

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister V C Shukla, who was among those injured in the attack, is at present undergoing treatment at MedantaHospital in Gurgaon.

"Intelligence has been there. But there was no specific alert on the attack," he said.

Singh also asked opposition parties not to politicise the issue and sought their support to fight the menace of naxalism.

"Naxalism is not a state-specific problem. It is a problem of the country. All should unite against it," said the CM, who is here to participate in a day-long conference on internal security on Wednesday.

Singh said a judicial inquiry has been ordered to find out any security lapses which probably led to the attack.

"We have already ordered an inquiry in the attack by a sitting high court judge. They will give report in 90 days," he said.

The Centre has already ordered a probe by National Investigation Agency on the attack.

Singh also rejected charges of laxity in security measures by the state government and said adequate arrangements for Congress' 'Parivartan rally' were made.

"There was adequate deployment of police personnel for the rally. There were road opening parties and sufficient number of security personnel were deployed for the safety of rally and leaders," Singh said.

The chief minister ruled out involvement of Army in the fight against naxalites. "There is no need of Army as they can easily be identified. Security forces are there to take on Naxals," he said.

To a question whether the attack will have any bearing on the legislative assembly elections due later this year, the chief minister said he enjoys the support of the people.

"My government is not formed on the promises of building roads and buildings. My government is based on trust and faith of people. I have the support of people," he added.

Singh will give his suggestion on fighting Naxalism in the Wednesday's conference of chief ministers to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.