New Delhi: Asserting that the government is
ready to take criticism for its anti-Naxal offensive, Home
Secretary G K Pillai on Tuesday 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.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 00:33