New Delhi: Government Wednesday said it has no
evidence of China lending support to Maoists.
"....we have no evidence on reports that China is lending
support to them (Maoists)," Home Minister P Chidambaram
informed the Rajya Sabha during Question Hour.
He said the government also did not have any information
on Maoists receiving any support from anti-national forces.
"On whether anti-national or international forces are
supporting Maoists, we have no evidence of any covert support
to them. There was one unconfirmed report about a contact
between a Nepalese organisation and Maoists," he said.
Chidambaram, however, said the government was keeping a
watch and would take action with the help of friendly
countries if such reports are confirmed.
He said Maoists are generating funds internally through
extortion and by looting banks. They are also smuggling arms
through borders along Bangladesh and Myanmar.
"But, there is no proof of Maoists getting money from
international agencies," he said.
To a supplementary that Maoists carry out money laundering
and even Interpol and audit firm KPMG have given estimates
that it has reached large proportions, Chidambaram said though
the issue of money laundering is dealt with by the Finance
Ministry, "these estimates are exaggerated. I don`t believe."
To another query, he said circulation of fake currency is
a separate issue and not only the Indian rupee, but all major
currencies of the world are facing this problem. "We have
caught consignments of fake currencies on various occasions."
The Home Minister said there is a mechanism to monitor use
of money under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 1976.
"No banned organisation or their front organisations are
given permission to receive foreign contribution under the
Act. Central intelligence and security agencies work in close
cooperation with their counterparts in states to gather
information regarding this matter," he said.
He informed the House that the Act is proposed to be
replaced by a new one which will incorporate provisions for
greater transparency and accountability. The regulatory
mechanism would also get further strengthened, he said.
The minister said government has taken action in 100 cases
where the Act was violated.
PTI
