Delivering the keynote address at a seminar on 'Sustaining Peace in Northeast India: Changing Dimensions' sponsored by the British Deputy High Commission, Eastern India in collaboration with the Centre for Development and Peace Studies, Pillai said, "The Maoist threat is certainly one that is emerging. The Maoist strategy is to fish in troubled waters and exploit any grievances or even perceived grievances. This has to be tackled politically at the grassroot level. It has to be nipped in the bud with the help of people as only the police can't tackle it alone."
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"The subtle campaign of Maoists to portray themselves as champions of the underdog and protector of the deprived is but a part of their larger campaign to seize political power through armed struggle. The states of the northeast, especially Assam, needs to learn from the experiences of Andhra Pradesh, Chattishgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa and nip
the threat of Maoists in the bud," he said.
"The primary task will be for grassroot workers of recognised political parties to counter the propaganda of the Maoists at the village-level and educate them of the ill-effects of going through a phase of violence," the former senior bureaucrat said.
Speaking at the seminar, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said all encompassing development would be instrumental in tackling the Maoist threat. "We have to promote economic growth, provide political and social rights, treat every community with dignity and honour to neutralise Maoists and insurgents. For me insurgents like the ULFA, NSCN and Maoists are all the same. The Maoists are now trying to join hands with insurgents in Assam because they are weak and need help. It is an old problem and can't be wiped out overnight through use of force. We have to give top priority to economic development with focus on rural India to rob Maoists and insurgents of their bases among the people," Gogoi said.
"My government has given autonomy to most of the principal ethnic communities in the state in the form of autonomous council and it has paid well as every community has now become part of the development process," he added.
