'States can deal with naxal issue in their own way'

The naxalite-infested states are at liberty to choose their own course of action in controlling the problem, including holding talks with the naxalite organisations.

This was stated by Union home minister Sivaraj Patil at a press meet here today. Briefing on the meeting held here today on the naxalite menace faced by nine states in the country, he said the talks were fruitful and useful.

"With the Constitution laying down certain functions for the states, the Government of India does not want to be seen as dictating terms to them. The Centre will stand by them and help them in their endeavour," he said to a query as to why the Centre had not taken up the responsibility of directly engaging talks with the naxalites as the problem was not limited to one particular state.

Lending support to the Andhra Pradesh government's initiative on talks with the People's War Group and other naxal outfits, Sivaraj Patil observed that the Centre was also of the opinion that the extremists should not be dealt only with force as "after all they are also our kith and kin".

He exuded confidence in the initiative taken by the Andhra Pradesh government and said that the Centre was expecting some good results from the peace talks.

When asked whether the Centre was advising the states on issues like allowing naxalites to carry arms into villages during the peace talks, the minister replied that the states were capable of taking appropriate decisions. But he cautioned the states concerned to ensure that no adverse impact on each other on account of these initiatives.

He said divergent views were expressed by the participating states on how to deal with the extremism. According to him, some states proposed alternate path to talks like containing naxalism through development activities and seeking the Centre's intervention to deal with the problem. "It is for them to decide. On our part we will extend all help including modernisation of state's forces," he said.

Some states, including Chhattisgarh, expressed apprehension over the peace talks that the extremists were taking advantage of the peace talks to increase their activities in the neighbouring states.