GK Pillai said those who advocate the cause of Maoists should have the courage to call a spade a spade and also condemn the murder of innocents by the extremists.
Asserting that the government is ready to take criticism for its anti-Naxal offensive, home secretary G K Pillai today said those who advocate the cause of Maoists should have the courage to call a spade a spade and also condemn the murder of innocents by the extremists.
"Government is ready to take criticism. Government is responsible, Government is accountable. But the Maoists are not accountable to anybody," he told a seminar here.
The home secretary said there were people and NGOs who often criticise the government for its acts against Maoists but hardly utter any word when the ultras indulge in violence.
"We must be willing to call a spade a spade. If Maoists are murderers, please call the Maoists murderers," he said.
Pillai said Maoists have murdered 159 innocent civilians between June and December 2009 in West Midnapore district in West Bengal.
"But I didn't see any criticism of that. Had the government killed 159 people, lots of people would have called it a genocide. Why don't they call it a genocide by Maoists. 800 people were killed by Maoists last year and many of them were innocent," he said.
The home secretary said it was important to understand that the government's primary duty was to provide security to common people but unfortunately many people have forgotten that aspect.
"A teacher has been kidnapped in Chhattisgarh recently. I have not seen any NGO coming out and criticising the Maoists. Is that allowed, is that permitted ? Are you scared? May be many of you are scared. You don't want to speak against CPI (Maoist) because if you speak, you will not be able to go to Chhattisgarh again."
Referring to demands by some NGOs to provide more water to Pakistan under the Indus Water Treaty, Pillai said 200 inspections have been done jointly by India and Pakistan on the river waters after the pact was signed.
"There was not a single objection from Pakistan during those inspections. So, from where suddenly the water terrorism coming from. The fact is that they got more water than what they are entitled to," he said.
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