Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Friday reiterated the offer of talks to the CPI (Maoist) if it gave up violence.
“They have to abjure violence and then we can work out the process [of talks] and we will advise the State governments to talk to them. But first they have to abjure violence,” he said on the sidelines of the 48th raising day of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
On terror funding, Mr. Chidambaram said the government tracked three or four cases where suspicion had arisen of funds being used to finance terrorists. “They are under investigation. I can not disclose anything more.”
Bail to women cadres
On the grant of bail to suspected women naxal cadres which finally led to Maoists releasing the abducted police officer, Atindranath Dutta on Thursday, Mr. Chidambaram said: “This is a decision that West Bengal is competent to take. I am not required to advise the State government one way or the other.”
Restructuring ITBP
The government was planning to restructure the ITBP by getting modern weaponry and specialised vehicles for its personnel guarding the icy frontier along the border with China.
“We are considering an ITBP restructuring plan. The plan includes measures to strengthen border posts,” he said at the ITBP raising day. Surveillance equipment, modern weaponry and specialised vehicles would also be procured to equip the force.
The ITBP would have 15 new battalions, three recruit training centres, a jungle warfare school and a high-altitude medical training centre.
Mr. Chidambaram said the country was passing through a difficult phase in terms of cross-border terror, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency in the northeast and Left-wing extremism in various States. “We are confident that we have the strength and capacity to overcome these challenges.”
