Govt divided over using Army to curb Naxals
New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Security will discuss measures to combat Naxals on Thursday even as the Defence Ministry and the Home Ministry have divergent views on how to neutralise the rebels. Home Minister P Chidambaram wants Army deployed in Naxal strongholds, but the Defence Ministry has objected to the use of defence forces.
The Defence Ministry says the Army and Air Force are not keen on being called in to tackle the Naxals and has submitted a document combining inputs from the two wings of the defence forces.
Air Force says it can't spare anymore helicopters for anti-Naxal operations but is willing to release some of its Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to help in anti-Naxals operations. Even the Army is reluctant to join the anti-Naxal operations saying it cannot disturb regular troops from Kashmir and Northeast.
Moreover, the Army is not willing to use regular troops for de-mining operations in Naxal strongholds.
The Army though says it is willing to help train new Rastriya Rifle battalions specifically for combating Naxals.
The ministries of Defence and the Home are also at loggerheads over who will head the unified command of anti-Naxal operations. While the Home Ministry wants the Chief Secretary in command, the Defence Ministry says it must be the Chief Minister of the state where the operations take place.
Chidambaram's new anti-Naxal battle plan includes calling in the Army to take on the rebels in the dense forests of Dantewada in Chhattisgarh. The Home Ministry also wants Dantewada declared a disturbed area and Armed Forces Special Powers Act imposed after which the Army would move in Dantewada. It also plans to use Army Sappers for de-mining operations along with Rashtriya Rifles and Para Battalions for surgical strikes.
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