Govt doesn't want to use army to contain Naxal violence: P Chidambaram

Union home minister P Chidambaram has said the government did not want to use the armed forces to contain Naxal violence as this could lead to loss of civilian lives.

Government was not in favour of deploying the army to combat Naxals because the Indian Air Force too would have to be engaged, he said at a public meeting in Tamil Nadu last night.

Referring to Naxal operations in seven states, he said the paramilitary forces would continue to counter the Left-wing extremists.

Chidambaram said he was also concerned about possibility of violence rearing its head in Tamil Nadu as some persons from this district were making inflammatory speeches that could instigate violence.

"If there is violence in speech and writing... there will be violence in the action also. This cannot be allowed at any point of time. We will not allow violence to rear its head in Tamil Nadu," he said.

Chidambaram, who was participating in the 108th birth anniversary celebrations of former chief minister Kamaraj and 125th anniversary of the Congress party, said "We have a dream about Kamarajar Atchi (government) blossoming again in Tamil Nadu. We long for that. But Kamarajar government is there at the Centre and several states. The Central government is being run in the direction shown by Kamaraj," he added.