Govt has right to use force against Maoists: Chidambaram

The government said it had the legitimate right to use as much force as necessary to regain control of areas dominated by the Maoists and made it clear that talks with it could only take place if the ultras abjured violence.

Terming Naxalism as a "graver problem" than jihadi terrorism, Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday vowed to effectively tackle the threat from Maoists, who have declared a war against the Indian state, before the term of the government ends.

Chidambaram said the goal of the Maoists was armed liberation struggle and the sole purpose was to seize power.

Referring to the offer of talks made by the government to the Maoists recently, he asked, "Why aren't the Maoists making a simple statement that we abjure violence?"

He said in such a situation, it was the legitimate right of the government to use as much force necessary to regain the areas and hoped that once the government regains control in two to three years, it would usher in development.

"We are confident that before the term of United Progressive Alliance-II ends, we will get rid of Naxals and will have considerably strengthened our security to face any threat," he said addressing the India Today Conclave in New Delhi.

Chidambaram described Naxalism as a "graver problem" than that of jihadi terrorism and pointed out that they have presence in 200 districts of the country and virtually control 34 of them.

"They (Maoists) have declared a war on the Indian state... They are anti-development. They do not want the poor to be emancipated or become economically free," he said. Chidambaram added that civil right groups naively thought that Naxalites are pro-poor.

With the serious threat of jihadi terrorism centered on Pakistan and Afghanistan and also affecting Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Chidambaram said South Asia is, therefore, duty bound to work together to end the menace.