Mumbai: Stating that the issue of Naxalism can be resolved through dialogue, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh on Tuesday asserted that the ultras should also be ready for talks.
"We have not stopped the process of dialogue with naxals. It should go forward. Because the issue can be resolved only through dialogue and not by getting involved in arms race," Singh told reporters during an interactive session organised by the Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini in Uttan near here.
On if he was getting good support from the central government, Singh said they have good coordination with the Centre on the issue and added that he would keep the naxal issue away from politics.
"Yes, former Home Minister P Chidambaram supported us in tackling the naxal menace. However, I would like to keep naxalism away from politics. It is the issue engulfing the country and not a particular state," he added.
He said the security forces have been capturing the areas under siege of naxals. "We are trying to win the hearts of naxals. We are taking our Public Distribution System (PDS) there and are trying to rebuild the bridges which were destroyed by them," the chief minister claimed.
"Even in worst naxal affected areas, PDS is not an issue," he said.
Singh also said he was ready for talks with the ultras at any forum.
He called upon the need to replicate the success model of PDS to overcome the challenge of food security across the country. "The outcome of the state government`s initiative in food and nutritional security has been no hunger deaths or farmers suicides," he mentioned.
Singh also made a presentation on development through good governance on the occasion, highlighting various positive aspects of the BJP-ruled government in the 10-year-old state, carved out from Madhya Pradesh.
PTI
