Development is answer to Left extremism, says Sonia

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Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday said implementing development programmes is the answer to Left-wing extremism, which is posing a challenge to public order and governance in several regions, especially tribal areas.

"If we implement the developmental programmes, we will be able to bring back many of them (the Left-wing extremists) to the national mainstream," Gandhi said while opening a conference on tribal empowerment, organised by the Mahila Congress here.

"The central government and state governments are duty-bound to implement the developmental schemes," Gandhi said.

The central government is planning a new legislation that will give the tribals economic dividends when their land is taken over for mining operations, she added.

Over the years, the Congress governments at the centre had enacted several laws and implemented many schemes which empowered tribals and helped their progress, Gandhi said.

"Indiraji (late prime minister Indira Gandhi) is still fondly remembered in tribal homes in the country," she said. Gandhi said the steps taken by Rajiv Gandhi (her husband and former prime minister) enabled tribal women to occupy key positions in panchayats and other civic bodies.