Centre's role in assisting states limited: PC on insurgency

Hyderabad, Nov 6 : Describing as 'media invention' the 'Green Hunt'operation in Naxal infested states, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today maintained that the 'Centre's role was limited in providing logistic support.

''The states concerned are carrying out counter-insurgency operations, wherever necessary. The Centre's role is limited to providing para military forces, intelligence inputs and technical help to the states concerned,'' he told reporters here.

Asked about the operation involving para military and state forces with code name ''Operation Green Hunt'' against Naxalites, he said there is nothing like that.'' ''This is only an invention by the media,'' he said.

Asked about the Centre's response to naxalites' reported offer to come to the negotiating table if a ceasefire was announced, he said, ''I have not seen any such statement by naxalite leader. Only you people are talking about this. It is not correct to respond based on media reports, '' Mr Chidambaram said.

Asked whether the Centre had any proposal to increase the number of para military forces for anti naxalite operations, he said, evading a direct reply, ''you have to read monthly reports of para military forces and find out for yourself''.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
Unauthorised publication of any content from NewKerala.Com is prohibited