Naxalites must be dealt with iron fist: Pilot

Union Minister for Corporate Affairs Sachin Pilot said on Thursday that Naxalites should be dealt with an “iron fist” and nobody should mistake the strength of the Indian state.

Describing the recent killings of Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh as “cold blooded” murder done with military precision, he said “Let nobody mistake the strength of the Indian state. You cannot talk on gunpoint. We cannot allow Maoists massacring people.” “They (Naxals) need to be dealt with an iron fist and the government’s two-pronged strategy of development and operations going hand in hand will surely bring results,” he told PTI.

“War against nation”

Calling the Naxalites nothing but “pure terrorists,” Mr. Pilot said their latest act of killing 27 people in Chhattisgarh including top Congress leaders was akin to “waging war against the nation as they butchered these people in broad daylight” without any respect for human life.

The MP from Rajasthan’s Ajmer said that “we will have to take up this challenge and security forces will have to ensure that Naxalites are flushed out” not only from Chhattisgarh but from all the Left-wing extremism-hit areas.

He said that the government and his party were all for the development of local tribals but peace and tranquillity were essential components in this approach.