NEW DELHI: In a clear indication that the government will not let Trinamool Congress' political predilections come in the way of its fight against Red terror, the IAF is considering deploying more choppers to aid anti-Naxalite operations.
The IAF will have 17 of its Mi-17 helicopters in operation with various UN missions free soon. Some of them will be deployed for anti-Naxal operations. At the moment, it has only two of its Mi-17s and two Dhruv helicopters in anti-Naxal operations.
The helicopters with sideward-mounted machine guns will be operated by IAF commandos belonging to Garud units, who would be on board for every sortie.
They said for the use of its helicopters in Maoist-hit areas, IAF had asked the state police and the paramilitary to take a number of precautions such as sanitising the helipad areas.
The Centre, which discounted suggestions that Naxalites would heed to Ms Mamata Banerjee's advice and get to the negotiating table, has made it plain that abjuring violence was the primary condition for any dialogue with Maoists. Maoists have been insisting that talks should be preceded by a halt in anti-Naxal operations. "This is just not acceptable. We have made it clear to members of the civil society who have been seeking dialogue with Naxalites," said a senior government leader.
The government's decision to deploy more IAF choppers and its resolve not to engage in talks with armed Naxalites is a clear snub to Ms Banerjee. The Trinamool Congress, which is keen on ending the Left's hegemony in the three districts around Lalgarh that account for 42 assembly seats, has been collaborating with Maoists. The Lalgarh rally of the Trinamool Congress had significant Maoist participation.
Government leaders, who are tackling the Maoist problem, said the offer of talks was aimed only to hoodwink the Centre and agencies engaged in fighting the menace. "They had made such offers in the past. But all these were followed by acts of violence. How can the government talk to Maoists when they attack innocent civilians and men in uniform," asked a senior government official.
In an intervention in Parliament, home minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said that the government will not encourage anyone to support Maoists.
On its part, the government has also been resisting attempts by a section of the Congress to refashion its anti-Naxal strategy. While acknowledging that social deprivation in rural India was providing a perfect setting for Naxalites, the government is quite clear that it cannot show any leniency towards them. "Our objective is to reclaim the authority of the civil administration in Naxalite-infested areas. The offensive will be followed by developmental work," the home minister had recently told a meeting of chief ministers.
No talks until Naxals shun gun-Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times
The IAF will have 17 of its Mi-17 helicopters in operation with various UN missions free soon. Some of them will be deployed for anti-Naxal operations. At the moment, it has only two of its Mi-17s and two Dhruv helicopters in anti-Naxal operations.
The helicopters with sideward-mounted machine guns will be operated by IAF commandos belonging to Garud units, who would be on board for every sortie.
They said for the use of its helicopters in Maoist-hit areas, IAF had asked the state police and the paramilitary to take a number of precautions such as sanitising the helipad areas.
The Centre, which discounted suggestions that Naxalites would heed to Ms Mamata Banerjee's advice and get to the negotiating table, has made it plain that abjuring violence was the primary condition for any dialogue with Maoists. Maoists have been insisting that talks should be preceded by a halt in anti-Naxal operations. "This is just not acceptable. We have made it clear to members of the civil society who have been seeking dialogue with Naxalites," said a senior government leader.
The government's decision to deploy more IAF choppers and its resolve not to engage in talks with armed Naxalites is a clear snub to Ms Banerjee. The Trinamool Congress, which is keen on ending the Left's hegemony in the three districts around Lalgarh that account for 42 assembly seats, has been collaborating with Maoists. The Lalgarh rally of the Trinamool Congress had significant Maoist participation.
Government leaders, who are tackling the Maoist problem, said the offer of talks was aimed only to hoodwink the Centre and agencies engaged in fighting the menace. "They had made such offers in the past. But all these were followed by acts of violence. How can the government talk to Maoists when they attack innocent civilians and men in uniform," asked a senior government official.
In an intervention in Parliament, home minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said that the government will not encourage anyone to support Maoists.
On its part, the government has also been resisting attempts by a section of the Congress to refashion its anti-Naxal strategy. While acknowledging that social deprivation in rural India was providing a perfect setting for Naxalites, the government is quite clear that it cannot show any leniency towards them. "Our objective is to reclaim the authority of the civil administration in Naxalite-infested areas. The offensive will be followed by developmental work," the home minister had recently told a meeting of chief ministers.
No talks until Naxals shun gun-Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times
