The government on Saturday said it was committed to ending Maoist threat but made it clear that the activities of Left-wing extremists could not be suppressed through force.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the government was of the view that solution to all problems should be found through dialogues and peaceful way and not by using force.
“The government has no illusion that it can suppress Maoist threat by using force,” he said in a Facebook post but made it clear that the government was committed to ending the challenges posed by the banned outfit.
But it was not the intention of the Kerala Police to physically eliminate anybody through encounters. The government also did not want to crush any peaceful protest and violate the human rights of any person, he said.
Referring to media reports that Maoist leader Rupesh, who is now in jail, had planned to stage a sit-in, the Minister said it was a welcome step as “the Maoist leader has chosen a peaceful path instead of violence”.
He appealed to Maoists to eschew violence and work for a new society.
Mr. Chennithala said the government had ‘succeeded’ in preventing the efforts of Maoists to make inroads in tribal areas through its development initiatives.— PTI
