Naxal problem mainly in Opposition-ruled states: P Chidambaram

BANGALORE: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today said the Naxal problem is mostly in states not ruled by the Congress for a decade.

Addressing Congress workers and leaders at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee office here, he said, "Naxal problem is mainly in states not ruled by the Congress party, except Maharashtra."

Then he referred to the states mostly affected by the problem -- Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, south Bihar and Orissa. "They have not been ruled by the Congress for 10 years."

But nevertheless, Chidambaram said the Centre has been cooperating with these states and giving full support to them in controlling the Naxal problem.

The minister said the country witnessed an average of five terrorist attacks every year between 2001 and 2008, but in the last three years, there were only three. While three terrorist attacks are bad (in number anyway), there were only three (the number has come down), he noted.

Chidambaram also said that never in the history of India has Jammu and Kashmir been so peaceful. "Number of tourists have already crossed eight lakh. Number of Amarnath pilgrims, as of yesterday,...two lakhs have already visited the cave (shrine)."

He added that militancy in the northeast is at its lowest ebb, and all groups, including ULFA, are in talks.