Naxals should give up terror activities: BJP

The BJP today said Naxals should first give up "terrorist activities" and make peace before talking about solving their problems through dialogue. 

"They should first stop terrorist activities, make peace and only then they would have the right to solve their problem through discussion," BJP President Nitin Gadkari told reporters here.

If the ultras continue to take law into their hands, it would be difficult to hold discussions, he said.

On inter-linking of rivers, he accused the UPA government of not taking the project seriously and said if implemented it would solve the water and power problems of states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

BJP-ruled Gujarat had interlinked 21 rivers and with the availability of additional water, the state's agriculture sector "is growing at a much faster" rate compared with the rest of the country, he said.

"Water and power are two most important factors in the situation to change socio-economic scenario of agriculture and rural sectors,"  he said, adding the inter-linking of rivers would enhance food production to the tune of 200 million tonnes annually.

Gadkarai demanded the government add 'irrigation' as a subject in the concurrent list of the Constitution. This would "massively" accelerate the country's irrigation capacity.

"If given the mandate in next general elections, the BJP would accord high priority for interlinking of rivers," he said.