Nitish Kumar defends his 2-pronged approach to tackle Maoist insurgency

PATNA: Former Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has advocated a two-pronged approach to tackle Maoist insurgency, reacting to an ET report that the Centre may starve the state of funds if it did not toe the tough line against the Leftwing extremists by saying that development should be pursued alongside operations by security forces.

The ministry was considering funds cut after Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi expressed disagreement with Union home minister Rajnath Singh’s stand of “no talks” with the extremists and said all-round development was the only solution.

While saying that he did not want to take issue with the Centre, Kumar on Tuesday said, “A two-pronged strategy should be adopted if we want to look at a long-lasting solution to the problem. We should have development programmes designed for the Naxal-affected districts.

At the same time, I am also for intelligence-based operations.” Kumar further told ET, “The Centre keeps a close eye on how these funds are to be spent. In fact, there is a district project clearance committee headed by DM besides SP and DFO (divisional forest officer) as its members.

It directly reports to the Planning Commission about the progress of the development schemes undertaken for the Naxalaffected districts.” The former CM, who quit in the wake of his party’s debacle in the recent LS polls, said his JD (U) party had launched ‘Aapki Sarkar, Aapke Dwaar (your government at your doorstep)’ specifically for the districts affected by Naxalism.