Question : MEETING OF NAXAL AFFECTED STATES

(a) whether Chief Ministers of naxals affected States met in New Delhi recently;

(b) if so, the details of discussions held to curb the menace of naxalism;

(c) whether any joint task force has been formed to combat naxalism;

(d) if so, the details thereof?

(e) whether Union Government has assured the States to provide all financial, weaponry and other held for this purpose;

(f) if so, the details thereof;

(g) whether any specific strategy was chalked out at the meeting; and

(h) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI SRIPRAKASH JAISWAL)

(a)&(b): The first meeting of the Standing Committee of the Chief Ministers of naxal affected States was held on September 19, 2005 in New Delhi. The Standing Committee reviewed the naxalite situation and the steps being taken by the affected States to combat the problem and determine further measures to counter naxalism more defectively.

(c)&(d) : It was decided that the Inter-State Joint Task Forces to facilitate coordinated and synergized anti-naxalite operations across the State boundaries would be made functional immediately.

(e) & (f) : The Central Government has been providing the States all possible help to bring about better coordination amongst them and also supplement their efforts and resources in meeting the challenge of naxalism on both security and development fronts.

(g) & (h) : The States agreed to adopt a collective approach and pursue a coordinated response to effectively combat the problem of naxalism. The Central Government has assured the States all possible assistance on security and development fronts to effectively meet with this challenge.