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Title : Need to formulate an effective strategy to combat
the menace of naxalism in the country.
SHRI MANISH TEWARI (LUDHIANA): India faces an existential threat from a host of internal stresses. Left Wing extremism appear fairly high in the list. From 53 districts in 2001, it has rapidly spread to 252 districts across 18 states. India has 533 tribes comprising 88.3 million people. This translates into 8.6% of total population. 85% of this population lives in Central and Peninsular India that is the active command area of naxal movement. Lalgarh is perhaps the latest manifestation of their resolve. Unlike other extremist/separatist movements in Punjab, Jammu Kashmir or parts of the North East it is not a mainland insurgency but more in the nature of a heartland rebellion. Needless to say the bulk of our mineral resources are concentrated in the Central and Peninsular regions. Why does the Govt. of India not talk to the affected States and set up a unified security command and a pan state development body staffed by state officers but funded and monitored by the Central Government to holistically try and resolve this problem. Since the so called revolutionary corridor stretches from Pashupati in Nepal to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh the jurisdictional issues are clearly leveraged by the extremists to consolidate, regroup, avoid and evade the security forces. A serious re-examination of the entire strategy to combat naxalism is the need of the hour.