Home ministry slept for four years on Naxal menace: Jaitley

Following the Naxalite attack in Dantewada which claimed the lives of 76 police and paramilitary personnel, Arun Jaitley, leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, today accused the Union home ministry of having slept for four years, believing that social actions were the solution to the Maoist problem.

"The home ministry slept for four years," the BJP politician told NDTV. "They did not realise the menace. They, perhaps, thought some economic and social actions will be a solution to this. They never realised that this is actually a war on India's parliamentary democracy and a war through use of violence."

Jaitley, however, said that now, for the first time, the home ministry is "getting a feel of the problem" and demanded that the government stand on a "strong and sure wicket" to fight the Maoists.

Jaitley asserted that the whole country needs to realise that "we cannot have political compromise with Maoists".

"The state is legitimately entitled to protect its citizenry. If the state has to resort to the use of force it is a natural power which a state must use to protect its sovereignty and its people," he said.

Slamming Naxalism, Jaitley insisted, "No organised group of an underground movement can claim power or parity with the state."

He said greater co-ordination between the Centre and the states was "absolutely necessary".

Jaitley cautioned central government officials against making "misconceived remarks" against the states.

"The entire country must speak in one language. BJP has always maintained that as a party with strong nationalistic credentials we stand shoulder to shoulder with the central government [on the issue]," Jaitley said.