Centre should not discriminate while tackling Naxals: Umashanker Gupta

Madhya Pradesh home minister Umashanker Gupta today said there should not be any discrimination by the Centre towards states in tackling the menace of Naxalism, a day after the worst ever Maoist attack in which 76 security personnel were killed in Chhattisgarh.
 
"If the Centre discriminates against the states for political reasons in tackling Naxalism, it was not fair given that the security of citizens comes under threat," Gupta told PTI in Indore.

He said government has to rise above politics and join hands to fight the grave challenges posed by the red ultras.

The minister said Madhya Pradesh needs additional manpower and resources and the Centre should immediately take steps in regard to check the Naxal violence.

Barring some petty incidents in Balaghat, Gupta said Naxal activities were almost under check in Madhya Pradesh since some time since no major incident has been reported.

State was keeping a vigil at its borders close to the Maoists affected districts of neighbouring states, he said.

However, he said honest efforts should be made to connect people, who due to ignorance or helplessness have become a part of Naxalism, to the nation's mainstream.

Gupta termed yesterday's Naxals attack on security personnel as a dastardly act of the ultras.