Long-term planning needed to tackle Maoism: Raman Singh

Raipur, Dec 26 (IANS) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said here Friday that a long-term action plan was needed on 'security and development' to address the Maoist insurgency.

'Chhattisgarh is viewed as a model state in the country in handling Maoist insurgency which is a national problem. A long-term action plan to boost security in the troubled areas and also their overall development can produce a lasting solution to the menace,' Singh told reporters here.

The 56-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader who was sworn in Dec 12 as chief minister for the second time said: 'People need to be made aware across the country about Maoist terrorism. We need to draw inspiration from people of state's Bastar region where the innocent tribes people have launched a self-inspired war against them'.

He was referring to a controversial anti-Maoist movement, Salwa Judum, launched in June 2005 against leftists radicals in state's forested Bastar region.

'Salwa Judum is a self-inspired people's peace initiative, it's not a government-sponsored movement. Chhattisgarh government is just providing security to villagers involved in the movement,' Singh said.

Chhattisgarh is one of the worst Maoist-hit states in the country and insurgents have killed over 1,100 people including 726 civilians since 2004, with majority of casualties reported from the mineral-rich Bastar region.