Admitting that the growth of Naxalism was as much because of failure of the Union Government as for a variety of other reasons, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has underlined the need for a renewed sense of urgency to address problems afflicting the masses through a stratagem hinged on synergy of security forces and implementing agencies. Delivering the annual Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture here on “Tirupati to Pashupati: Some reflections...

The media imagery of a “liberated” Red corridor extending from Andhra Pradesh, cutting across the heart of India, all the way to Nepal is the most vivid representation of the threat that Maoists pose to our country. The Prime Minister describes the Maoists as India's most serious internal security challenge and the Home Minister rates it as a “problem graver than terrorism.” In search of an effective response, official committees have,...

As many as 56 villages in the Saranda forests, freed from over 10 years of Maoist dominance in a month-long offensive in August, is set to see a new era of development with the Centre planning to showcase it as a test case to prove that police action is no impediment to building social infrastructure. Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh, who visited the Jharkhand capital last week, has sent a...

It will be shared with all-party delegation: Chidambaram The Jammu and Kashmir interlocutors on Wednesday submitted their final report to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, focusing on a “permanent political settlement of the Kashmir problem.” “The report deals with issues pertaining to economic, social and cultural aspects of Jammu and Kashmir,” eminent journalist Dileep Padgaonkar told journalists outside the North Block office of the Home Minister soon after submitting the report. He...

“This trip should translate into strong, political action” Amid the continuing blame game over the recent violence in Gopalgarh, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi made a surprise visit to the eastern Rajasthan town on Sunday and met the riot-affected people as well as the families of some of the deceased. Unexpected visit Union Minister of State for Home Jitendra Singh accompanied Mr. Gandhi during the visit that lasted barely two hours. Mr. Gandhi saw...