Maoists are terrorists: Jairam Ramesh
29 May 2013 12:37 AM GMT
Describing Maoists who killed several Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh four days ago as terrorists, senior Union minister Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday expressed the hope that the ‘deliberate and meticulously- planned carnage’ would be a turning point in the battle against them.
Ramesh, who has generally been against hardline approach towards Maoists, lashed out at them, saying they had no faith in Constitution, democracy or democratic institutions. Theirs was not ideology-based Maoism but it was based on extortion.
At the same time, he said there cannot be any going back on the government's strategy which recognised centrality of security and police operations but also of political engagement. There had to be development programmes to address issues of tribal development.
‘From 2004, we have been saying this that this is a law and order issue and this is also a socio-economic issue. Both have to be addressed,’ Ramesh said.
Ramesh, who has generally been against hardline approach towards Maoists, lashed out at them, saying they had no faith in Constitution, democracy or democratic institutions. Theirs was not ideology-based Maoism but it was based on extortion.
At the same time, he said there cannot be any going back on the government's strategy which recognised centrality of security and police operations but also of political engagement. There had to be development programmes to address issues of tribal development.
‘From 2004, we have been saying this that this is a law and order issue and this is also a socio-economic issue. Both have to be addressed,’ Ramesh said.
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