Amid controversy over a recent Naxal encounter in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Raman Singh on Tuesday urged political parties not to politicise the issue.
"The Bijapur encounter was not a planned encounter. Such issues should not be politicised," Singh told reporters after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
He said Naxals were using innocent villagers as shields to protect themselves from security forces.
A controversy has erupted over the killing of 19 people in an anti-Maoist operation by security forces in the dense jungles of Dantewada in Chhattisgarh during the night of June 27.
The joint operation by over 300 RPF and state police personnel has raised questions on whether all the victims were Naxals.
To a question over concerns related to the safety of Rowghat mines in Chhattisgarh, he said, "It is unfortunate that matters of national development are being opposed by Naxals.
"The state government is working towards the development of backward regions. But Naxals are opposing our efforts. They are trying to reverse the process of development," he said.
The home ministry had on Monday decided to provide paramilitary forces for the security of Steel Authority of India's ambitious Rowghat mining project and for the construction of a 235-km-long railway line through the Naxal-hit area.
The prime minister on Tuesday met over 150 tribal students from Maoist-affected areas of Chhattisgarh who have been brought to Delhi by the chief minister. They all have cleared entrance examinations to prestigious engineering institutes.
The students had on Monday met President Pratibha Patil.
The prime minister lauded the achievement of the tribal students, saying they were in a position to contribute towards building a "golden future" for the nation.
"These talented students from Naxal-affected areas of Chhattisgarh are the foundation stone for building a golden future for the state and the nation. The confidence and shine on the students' faces convey that they are the conveyor of peace and development," he said.
The prime minister also appreciated the state government's effort to open a tribal youth hostel in Delhi, saying such steps would help connect them to the mainstream and improve the situation in Maoist-affected areas of the state.
Singh informed the prime minister that a residential school-cum-coaching institute called Prayas was set up in 2010 by the state tribal welfare department with the objective of encouraging the potential of meritorious students from Naxal-hit districts and other tribal areas of the state.
He said the department chose 251 meritorious students from Class 10 and along with regular studies at higher secondary level, it gave them special coaching for appearing in IIT entrance tests and the AIEEE.
The chief minister said the state government was committed to providing more opportunities to students of Naxal-affected regions to prepare them for examinations to enter premier institutes.
