New Delhi: Noting that talks with Maoists
could take place only if they give up arms, the CPI(M) on Sunday
said it was for the Centre and respective states to draw up
the strategy to fight the menace but did not favour using
armed forces to tackle it.
Party Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury said Maoists
will have to give up arms if they wanted dialogue and only
then political process could follow.
"It is for the Centre and respective state governments
to draw up their strategy to tackle naxalism. Whatever means
they (Centre and States) have to adopt, it is for them to
decide," Yechury told reporters.
However, Yechury was not in favour of using armed forces
to tackle the Maoist menace. "Armed forces were used in such
circumstances very rarely. It is not right to involve them in
disputes between two groups of people," he said.
Biman Bose, another Polit Bureau member and Bengal
CPI(M) Secretary, also echoed similar views.
"How will we have dialogue with those who do not believe
in democracy and carry arms. If they give up arms and
strengthen the democracy, then talks should happen," Bose told
reporters.
Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb
Bhattacharjee met Home Minister P Chidambaram and discussed
problems relating to tackling of Maoist violence and
coordinated action against the menace with neighbouring
states.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, October 11, 2009, 15:59