Raipur, Chhattisgarh:
In the first official statement since the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting last month, Home Secretary G K Pillai has confirmed that the government will not deploy the Army in Naxal-hit areas.
Home Minister P Chidambaram had earlier publicly supported the deployment of troops in Maoist areas, while Defence Minister A K Antony had been opposed to the idea.
But now the Home Secretary has made it clear that the government has come to a decision that there is no need for Army deployment in Naxal-hit areas.
"The Centre has discussed the issue in detail at the Cabinet Committee for Security meet and concluded that at the moment, there is no need for deploying the Army in Naxal-hit areas. The motive is to understand the ground situation and solve the local problems. Secondly, the purpose is that the government wants to make an integrated developmental plan," Pillai said speaking in Chhattisgarh.
The Prime Minister will meet the chief ministers of seven Maoist affected states in Delhi on the July 14. Home Minister P Chidambaram will also meet them. The meeting will also be attended by the DGPs and Home secretaries of the seven states.
At last month's CCS meet, there was no agreement between the Defence and Home ministries on the strategy to tackle the Maoists.
Here's a quick look at the some of the key issues over which there is no consensus:
- The Home Ministry wants unified area command with Major General as advisor reporting to the Chief Minister. But the Ministry of Defence is opposed to this.
- The Home Ministry wants special operations commandos deployed, but the Defence Ministry says special operations people can't be pushed in suddenly.
- The Home Ministry wants Rashtriya Rifle units but the Defence Ministry says it does not have enough men.
- While the Ministry of Home Affairs wants the Army to be involved in de-mining, the Ministry of Defence says the Army has to carry out area domination first.
- The Defence Ministry has not responded to the Home Ministry's demand of using unmanned aircraft.
- The MHA also wants helicopters for ferrying troops, but the Defence Ministry has said this would amount to Air Force being involved.