New Delhi: A leading US think tank has
claimed the Indian government's "neglect" for rural areas has
led to the problem of left-wing insurgency and called it a
critical threat to the country's security.
Stratfor also raised doubts about the efficiency of
security forces involved in countering the menace of Naxal
threats.
"Naxalite threat is one of the most fundamental if not
the most critical threat impacting Indian national security
today. The intensity of the insurgency that we see today is
the product of decades of government neglect for India's rural
areas. This has provided fertile ground for the Naxalites to
operate and hone their skills in insurgent tactics," said Reva
Bhalla, Director-Analysis, Stratfor.
"Without a sustained developmental effort in rural
India, the Naxalite insurgency will remain alive. India's
internal security forces appear to be ill-equipped to deal
with this threat," she said.
Altogether 20 states, including Chhattisgarh,
Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra
and Bihar face challenges from the Naxal elements.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, November 29, 2009, 14:36