Collective effort needed to deal with Naxals: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh On Friday said a "huge collective and coordinated effort" is required both by the Centre and the states to achieve a "decisive change" in the Naxal situation in the country.

Large resources, he said, have been deployed by the central government to deal with the problem of Maoists. "There have been some successes on the ground. But if we seek a decisive change in the situation, then a huge collective and coordinated effort is required both by the Centre and the states acting in concert," he told a conference of DGPs and IGs here.

He said government is trying to give a sustained thrust to development processes in the Naxalite-affected areas.

The Prime Minister recalled that during his meeting with the collectors of 60 Naxal-affected districts he was told that "there is a ray of hope for the development of these areas provided we show flexibility and innovation in implementing development agenda."

"I am hopeful that with these changes and the setting up of Specialised India Reserve Battalions that will assist directly in these development efforts there will be some positive difference on the ground," he said.

On the situation in the northeast, Singh said there has been a gradual yet substantial improvement in the security situation.

"Our democratic polity has the capacity to respond to the legitimate aspirations of all communities, cultures and regions...Insurgent groups are increasingly coming round to the view that the search for a political identity need not entail recourse to violence and can be more fruitfully pursued through peaceful dialogue," Singh said.

He said the climate for talks with different groups in Assam has improved and the situation in the Darjeeling Hills has also improved.