Responding to P Chidambaram’s statement that fighting Naxals should be the state’s primary responsibility, Patil said that his government is ready to take up the challenge provided they are armed with adequate budget and upgraded weapons.
Home minister RR Patil wants the Centre to provide the state with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to augment its ability to combat Naxals.
Responding to Union home minister P Chidambaram’s statement that fighting Naxals should be the state’s primary responsibility, Patil on Tuesday said that his government is ready to take up the challenge provided they are armed with adequate budget and upgraded weapons.
Patil said since there are limitations within the state budget, the Centre has to ensure adequate resources.
However, following Chidambaram’s assertion, the state will have to overhaul its strategies on the issue.
“The Naxals will have to be fought on many fronts. To begin with, the police force has to be strengthened both in terms of manpower and machines. Also, the money flow to Naxals will have to be de-linked,” said Patil. What is more important, he added, is that Naxal-affected Gadchiroli needs socio-economic development on a war-footing.
In 2006-07, former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had made a presentation at the chief ministers’ conclave in New Delhi stating that Naxals pose the biggest challenge to the state.
In a candid admission, Patil said: “We have launched a campaign to sensitise the people against the double standards of Naxals. Gadchiroli remains the most backward region of Maharashtra despite abundance in resources (water, agriculture land and mines) because of Naxals.”
The minister said he has decided to lead from the front by choosing to become the guardian minister of Gadchiroli. “I have taken the conscious decision to boost the morale of my police force.”
Recalling how Gadchiroli had often become a haven for punishment postings, he said, “Today, we deploy the most able police officers there.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}