Better coordination among states to combat naxalism: PM

     New Delhi, August 15, 2009: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today promised to effectively increase its efforts to deal with naxal activities in Chhattisgarh and other parts of the country.

     Address from the ramparts of Red Fort on the occasion of Independence Day, the Prime Minister said for rooting out terrorist activities, the government was constantly upgrading the security forces and the intelligences agencies and with cooperation from all sections of the society terrorism would be eliminated from the country.

     Referring specifically to the naxal issue, he said it was the Constitutional obligation of the Government to protect the life and liberty of the citizen.

     “Those who think that they can seize power by recourse to the gun do not understand the strength of our democracy,” the Prime Minister said.

     The Centre would also re-double its efforts to deal with the naxalite activities and also states would be provided all assistance to make the local police forces more effective, he said adding the Centre would also do more to ensure better coordination among the states.

     “We will endeavour to remove those causes of social and economic dissatisfaction, which give rise to problems like naxalism,” Singh said.