Win tribal hearts to tackle Naxalism: PM

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated a two-day long conference of chief ministers and state tribal affairs ministers in Delhi on Wednesday.

We have to win tribal hearts to end Naxal violence, he said adding "the criminal justice system has become a source of harassment for the tribals.

The PM also hit out at their sympathizers, saying those who speak for tribals have not offered any alternative.

"There has been a systemic failure in giving tribals a stake in the modern economic process that inexorably intrude into their living places. The alienation built over decades is now taking a dangerous turn. The systematic exploitation and social and economic abuse of our tribal communities can no longer be tolerated. But the fact is that no sustained activity is possible under the shadow of the gun. Nor have those who claim to speak for the tribals offered an alternative path that is viable. The cult of violence will only bring greater misery to the people. We have to counter this threat with determination. While violence cannot be tolerated, the tribals must be the beneficiaries of the development process. We have to win the battle for their hearts," the PM said.  

The meet, convened by the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry, reviewed the implementation of all the other major developmental programmes for the tribal population in the country.

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Often it is argued that lack of development in tribal areas help Maoist gain support from the locals.

The meet comes at a time when the Maoists have launched an offensive in the tribal dominated states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand as well as tribal dominated districts of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

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The PM had said last week the strategy to counter Naxals is a two-pronged one - development and maintaining law and order - to focus on the developmental aspect.