Chidambaram sets 2-3 years' time frame to contain Naxals

Setting a time frame of two to three years or containing the Naxal menace, home minister P Chidambaram today said responsibility for "terrible failure" of command and control that led to Dantewada massacre will be fixed.

Replying to a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the April 6 incident in Chhattisgarh in which 76 security personnel were killed, he said those held responsible would be made answerable.

Chidambaram said he has asked Ram Mohan, probing the massacre "to fix responsibility from the assistant Commandant (CRPF) right up to the minister in the ministry of home affairs...let him fix responsibility where this failure of command and control took place". The report of the probe is expected by April 25.

Taking a dig at the NGOs and human rights organisations which empathise with Maoists, the home minister said, he was
willing "to be advised...if necessary, what course corrections" were needed.

But, he said, the "challenge has to be met squarely and fearlessly...It is a serious law and order problem."

Chidambaram said he was truly "heart-broken" following the incident and felt it was his moral duty to resign.

Noting that prime minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi rejected his resignation, he said, "I am determined to continue to provide leadership in the ministry of home affairs and to our para military forces.

"I am determined to continue to extend assistance to the states to fight the menace of Naxalism. We have to do so without fear," he said amidst thumping of desks from the members, including the main opposition BJP.

Chidambaram said, "We will be able to substantially contain and control this menace in about two-three years. We have to set for ourselves a time horizon."

Ruling out use of army and air force against Naxals, he said the government was examining whether special forces have to be used to support trained para military forces and "whether aircraft can be used for surveillance, logistics, supplies and evacuation".

Responding to jibes by leader of opposition, Arun Jaitley how the home minister would "tackle" his own party colleagues in his endeavour, Chidambaram said, "You (Jaitley) should not make an attempt because you will not succeed in trying to divide my party. That will not happen."

He said the Congress Party and UPA are totally united. Chidambaram said he was following the AICC 2006 resolution which had asked the government to give "highest priority to this serious law and order issue".

About different opinions in his party, he said, "We are a robust democracy. We must allow for shades of opinion. It is for the government to evolve a policy after listening to every shade of opinion," he said.