LD CHIDAMBARAM 2

Chidambaram said the naxalites believe in armed
liberation struggle and unless they change the very character
of that organisation they would not lay down arms.

"Therefore, from the very beginning you will not find a
single statement attributed to me asking them to lay down
arms. To the naxalites we have always said halt the violence
and come for talks," he said.
Taking a dig at the CPI(M), he said that initially the
Left party thought that the Maoists were comrade in arms in
the fight against "bourgeois" parties like Congress. "But now
they have realised that they were underestimating the gravity
of the problem. It is a late wake up call but at least they
have woken up," Chidambaram remarked.
He admitted that there was difference of opinion between
the Home and Defence ministries on amendments to the Armed
Forces Special Powers Act. The matter has been referred to the
Cabinet for its approval.
There has been substantial improvement in the coastal
security in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attack,
Chidambaram said, adding the country would have a world class
coastal security mechanism which was being put together
by the Navy.
The Home Ministry was doing its bit by strengthening the
coastal police stations, he said.
"Obviously, I am not satisfied with what Pakistan has
done," Chidambaram said when asked about the progress on the
Mumbai terror attack case in Pakistan. MORE PTI ACB
DDC


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