Dantewada attack a wake-up call, says Chidambaram

Union home minister P Chidambaram today said the Dantewada massacre was a "wake up call" for the country and asked for a collective resolve to defeat the Maoists, whose aim was to seize political power.

"Let us have no illusions about what they (Naxals) want. It is seizure of political power. The People's Liberation Guerrilla Army will be converted into People's Liberation Army," said Chidambaram replying to a day-long debate in the Lok Sabha, which saw opposition targeting the Congress-led coalition over "division" within itself on tackling the issue.

"Naxals call this war. They call us enemies. They call this hallowed hall, (Parliament) a pigsty," he said.

Dismissing reports that the 76 slain personnel of the CRPF were caught napping by the Naxals, the minister said they died fighting, having killed eight Maoists.

"If this tragedy is not a wake up call, then nothing can wake up this country and this Parliament," he said.

Turning emotional, the home minister said in a choked voice that he had resigned owning moral responsibility in the wake of the massacre, but prime minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi had rejected it reposing confidence in him.

"I will continue leadership to the ministry of home affairs and the paramilitary forces," declared Chidambaram, saying the tragedy should "make us more determined, resolute and fearless" in dealing with the adversary.

Noting that the report of the one-man inquiry into the Naxal attack would be available to the government by April 24 or 25, he said, "We will draw conclusions and lessons from it."

He also said that the Centre would give Rs35 lakh to each of the bereaved family of the CRPF men and a job to a member. The process would be completed by the month-end. This, he said, would be in addition to the compensation provided by the state government, which could range from Rs5 lakh to Rs15 lakh.

In the Rajya Sabha too, day-long discussions was held on the issue amid frequent adjournments.   

"We will overcome. It will be the triumph of the idea of India," Chidambaram said, adding that it was necessary to know the type of adversary the country was facing and it was the nation's duty to stand by the jawans.

"Let us understand the nature of the Naxal challenge and not fall prey to some romantic version of a Left wing movement," he said, adding "I have no fear. I do not fear the Naxals."

Asking the House not to pass any judgment on the Dantewada massacre till the probe report was available, Chidambaram said the preliminary investigation into the incident has indicated that "something terribly went wrong."

Asserting that development and police action (in Naxal-affected areas) should go hand in hand, the home minister scotched to nip the controversy that the Centre was unmindful of the socio-economic reasons and was treating the Maoist menace as only a law and order problem.

Noting that the Centre alone cannot be blamed for the lack of development in Naxal belts, Chidambaram had a dig at the Left-ruled West Bengal wondering how one can hold the Union government responsible for "no development in Lalgarh in the last 30 years."

He regretted that many states do not spend the funds the Centre allocated for various development schemes.

The home minister said he had offered every chief minister total support in what they do to maintain law and order, control the Naxal menace, and for development.

Recalling the meeting of chief ministers of Maoist-affected states, Chidambaram said they had all agreed to the proposed action plan to solve the Naxal problem and he offered to meet each of them individually to seek their consent for implementation of the plan.

The Centre, he said, had decided to carry out anti-Naxal operations in states under the directions of the respective DGPs and chief ministers.

And in the case of inter-state operations, it would be carried out under directions of special DG of CRPF in coordination with DGPs of respective states, he added.  On the suggestion of some members to engage other paramilitary forces for anti-Naxalite operations, Chidambaram said, the CRPF is the only reserve force that can fight Naxalites and perform other functions like election duties and peace keeping in riot affected areas.

The other paramilitary forces like ITBP, BSF and Assam Riffles are primarily border guarding forces, the minister said.

"We have only CRPF for Naxal operations. Recently Indian Army has helped us and trained 25 battalions of CRPF. About 25,000 men were trained. The home ministry is setting up 20 training schools", he said.

Responding to the suggestion of Lalu Yadav (RJD) and Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP) for an all party meet to discuss Naxal menace, Chidambaram said he would consult the prime minister.

Chidambaram described the word 'Operation Green Hunt' as a figment of imagination and said the government had never used words like "enemy" and "war" against Maoists.

He said, "There is no Operation Green Hunt...Why does media make this myth and lie that there is something (called)
Operation Green Hunt?"

The home minister also said the government has never used words like "enemy" and "war" against the Maoists and added that these words are used by them in their literature.