New Delhi: Terming Naxalism as the "big
challenge" for the country, new Home Secretary R K Singh on Thursday
said the Centre will confront the menace with close
coordination with Maoist-affected states.
"I believe Naxalism is a big challenge before us. We will
confront the challenge....to get success, it is necessary to
work with the state governments in close partnership. We will
try to work more closely with state governments," Singh told
reporters minutes after assuming the charge of Union Home
Secretary.
Singh said the central government would continue to focus
on the two-pronged strategy of police action and development
projects to deal with Maoists.
"We have strengthened our forces. We will strengthen them
further, providing them more training. We will focus on
intelligence input, which is very important, and coordinate
with state governments in carrying out development projects,"
he said.
He said there was a need to strengthen the state police
forces too and the Centre will continue to assist the state
governments in this task.
Commending on his predecessor G K Pillai who retired
today, Singh said the Home Ministry has done a "tremendous"
job in confronting the challenges facing the nation in the
last couple of years.
"I will look forward to continuing the initiatives which
have been taken. I look forward to confronting the challenges
in the same manner as my predecessor. And I am quite certain
that we shall continue the policy that we have," he said.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, June 30, 2011, 21:40