Communalism, Naxalism equal threats to internal security: Digvijay Singh

NEW DELHI: Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh today said communalism and fundamentalism, which is linked to terrorism, are equal threats to internal security.

"I think, if not more dangerous, it (communalism) is as dangerous as left wing extremism," said Singh, while participating in a discussion on Naxalism at India Habitat Centre, here today.

The discussion was held as part of the formal book release of Rahul Pandita's "Hello Bastar: The untold story of India's Maoist Movement".

The Congress leader also made it clear that on the issue of Naxalism, he was never on a confrontation with the Home Minister, with whom he has worked for a number of years together.

"The issue is simple, I have always followed the Congress line throughout. The Congress has always felt it is a socio-economic problem and it has to be dealt with in that order."

Singh said, "I would place communalism and fundamentalism, which is linked to terrorism, as an equal threat to internal security. I think if not more dangerous, it is as dangerous as left wing extremism."

Explaining the problem of Naxalism, the former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh said, the real issue was lack of governance and empowerment of people and control on natural resources.