Naxalism: Threat to Internal Security
Naxalism:Threat to Internal Security
The Government of India has taken serious note of the Naxal problem in the recent past. The recent attacks by the Naxalites on State and Central Police Forces in Dantewada are very serious events wherein large number of lives have been lost and the Nation sits up to see as to what would happen and what should happen.
The CSA has been concerned about the developing Naxal problem for quite some time. The CSA organised a lecture on 21st November 2008 by Lt. Gen. (Retd) K.M. Seth, Former Governor of Chattisgarh on the subject at Chennai. His talk is summarised here.
Naxalism is a very important subject for India in so far as its internal security is concerned. The national mind set that existed earlier and continues to exist today is that Naxalism is a socio-economic problem. The nation continues to believe that it is a law and order problem of the State. Hence the Constitution prevails and prohibits the Central Government from getting involved in it. The result is that the problem has remained unattended and has grown to the extent that we are witnessing today. In March 2006, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, while addressing Chief Ministers of Nine naxal affected States, mentioned that Naxalism constitutes the biggest internal security threat to India. This was the first official recognition of the problem. This was followed by the Prime Minister’s address on 15th August in the same year where he mentioned that the country is facing serious challenges from terrorism and Naxalism. Thereafter the problem that Naxalism poses to India has been acknowledged on several forums. However, it is saddening to note that there has been no serious effort to quell the menace of Naxalism.
The Internal Security Environment
India has been facing an insurgency in the Northeastern States since 1950s and in Jammu and Kashmir since 1989. The Naxalite left wing extremism raised its head in 1967 and during the last few years has extended with
The Government of India has taken serious note of the Naxal problem in the recent past. The recent attacks by the Naxalites on State and Central Police Forces in Dantewada are very serious events wherein large number of lives have been lost and the Nation sits up to see as to what would happen and what should happen.
The CSA has been concerned about the developing Naxal problem for quite some time. The CSA organised a lecture on 21st November 2008 by Lt. Gen. (Retd) K.M. Seth, Former Governor of Chattisgarh on the subject at Chennai. His talk is summarised here.
Naxalism is a very important subject for India in so far as its internal security is concerned. The national mind set that existed earlier and continues to exist today is that Naxalism is a socio-economic problem. The nation continues to believe that it is a law and order problem of the State. Hence the Constitution prevails and prohibits the Central Government from getting involved in it. The result is that the problem has remained unattended and has grown to the extent that we are witnessing today. In March 2006, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, while addressing Chief Ministers of Nine naxal affected States, mentioned that Naxalism constitutes the biggest internal security threat to India. This was the first official recognition of the problem. This was followed by the Prime Minister’s address on 15th August in the same year where he mentioned that the country is facing serious challenges from terrorism and Naxalism. Thereafter the problem that Naxalism poses to India has been acknowledged on several forums. However, it is saddening to note that there has been no serious effort to quell the menace of Naxalism.
The Internal Security Environment
India has been facing an insurgency in the Northeastern States since 1950s and in Jammu and Kashmir since 1989. The Naxalite left wing extremism raised its head in 1967 and during the last few years has extended with