No compromise with Maoists: Raman

            Raipur, August 19, 2008: When all political personalities and top bureaucrats were avoiding challenging the Maoists, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh in clear words condemned them and said at no cost the state would compromise with them or excuse them.

            In clear terms I want to say here that, at no point, the state government will bow down before any such individual or organisations, who have no faith on democracy, who are engaged in violence or who are traitors, the Chief Minister said.

            The people of the state will also not excuse them, he said while addressing the people here on the Independence Day.

Mentioning about the two-decade old naxal movement of the state, he said he Maoists, who are operating in Chhattisgarh and other parts of the country have become a serious threat to the unity and integrity of the country.

However, he was saluting the people of Bastar region, while ignoring their own comfort who are opposing the Maoists through the Salwa Judum (anti-Naxal campaign), he said.

            The state has also taken the responsibility of security and rehabilitation of the naxal violence affected people, and no forces in the world can stop us from doing that, the Chief Minister said apparently mentioning about the oppose by some political parties, including Left parties and a section of Congress besides some NGOs, to the Salwa Judum movement in Bastar region.

             The Chief Minister also sought the cooperation of the people in combating the violence unleashed by the Maoists in the state.

            Singh also told reporters that the people should also remember the contribution of the Special Police Officers (SPOs), who are fighting against the Maoists and added taking their contribution in mind the state had increased the honorarium of the SPOs to Rs 2150 from the existing Rs 1500.

            Payments to the SPOs have been increased so that the forces, hands in hands with the regular police recruits fighting the naxalites, can lead a better life, the Chief Minister said.

Besides state police and central Para Military forces, a large number of SPOs have also lost their life in the hand of Maoists in the last three years after the Salwa Judum was started from June 5, 2005.