Responding to the debate in Lok Sabha on the Dantewada massacre where Naxals killed 76 security personnel on April 6, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said that although the incident is a grave tragedy, it should work as a wake up call, otherwise nothing could wake up the country.Noting that the Central Reserved Paramilitary Force, which was meant to be a 'reserved force', is definitely overburdened, Chidambaram said that there is no development in most of the Maoist-inflicted places like Lalgarh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and the Centre cannot be blamed alone for this. "Even state governments are equally responsible for it," he added.
The Dantewada incident would make us more determined, more fearless to fight against the Naxal menace; and more concerned for the poor people residing in those districts, Chidambaram said.
"We are facing a determined enemy, and our jawans are putting up a brave fight. Let us not do anything that would demoralise them," he noted.
Accusing the state governments to be equally responsible for the Naxal menace, Chidambaram blamed that 'the funds allocated by the Centre must be spent properly by the states.'
On this, senior Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav countered Chidambaram by noting that 'funds were not properly spent by the state government, because of corruption.'
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani showed his dissatisfaction with Chidambaram's response, as the home minister 'did not mention a single word about the compensation process for the families of the slain soldiers of Dantewada.'
Chidambaram responded that the Centre would provide Rs 35 lakhs, and the states would provide Rs 5-10 lakhs for the families of the victims.
'I would ensure that the entire process is completed before April end," Chidambaram added.
Former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav suggested that an all party meeting should be convened on the Dantewada issue, to which Chidambaram said that he would consult with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his proposal.
Following this, the House was adjourned for the day.
