Backing home minister R.R. Patil’s suggestion on the Naxal issue, leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse on Thursday said that it was necessary to have a special law at national level to tackle the Naxal menace. He added that Maharashtra would also accept National Counterterrorism Centre (NCTC) if it is going to end the Naxal threat.
Addressing the legislative Assembly about the recent Naxal attack in Gadchiroli, Mr Patil on Thursday said that inste-ad of criticising the system, people should help change the situation in the Naxal-infested areas.
“We don’t mind if the state loses some of its rights while accepting the NCTC, but the Naxal menace should be ended. The security forces should be given special rights and powers,” Mr Patil said. However, he did not miss the opportunity to criticise the Union home ministry saying that it was wrong to hold the state police responsible after some untoward incident.
Moreover, Mr Patil further said that the state had managed to stop any major Naxal activity for almost two years. “But the Naxals have formed a special Naxal zone called Dandakaranya zone — in Gadchiroli, Chhattisgarh and areas of other states with 346 armed Naxals and more than 5,000 people working as undercover activists,” Mr Patil informed.
In the beginning of the discussion on the issue, Mr Khadse had pointed out the need of special laws and powers. “Special laws need to be made to give much power to the CRPF, police and security forces. Simultaneously, the state needs to provide facilities to youths from the area in employments, education, etc. Prosperity may change the outlook of people, and they themselves will oppose the Naxal movement,” Mr Khadse said.
Meanwhile, Mr Patil also said that the mindset of officers needs to be changed so that they willingly accept postings in the naxal-infested areas.