MAOISTS DO NOT BELIEVE IN PEACEFUL TALKS, SAYS INDIA'S INTERIOR SECRETARY

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

DURATION: 2.32

SOURCE: ANI

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India's Interior secretary says Maoists do not believe in peaceful talks.

Calling India's internal challenges 'grave', federal Interior Secretary, Raj Kumar Singh says that the Maoist rebels do not believe in peaceful talks but violence.

SHOWS:

PATNA, BIHAR, INDIA (APRIL 02, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)

1. A BOARD READING 'ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCK'

2. INDIA'S INTERIOR SECRETARY, R K SINGH ARRIVING

3. SINGH LAYING A FOUNDATION STONE

4. SINGH BREAKING A CEREMONIAL COCONUT

5. SINGH CUTTING A RIBBON

6. SINGH WALKING WITH POLICE OFFICIALS

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIA'S INTERIOR SECRETARY, R K SINGH, SAYING: "The internal challenges of the country are very difficult like Maoism. In the past few days several police officials were killed by the Maoists. This is an internal war and we should not believe on others. Our enemy believes in violence and there is no other option to tackle them. We cannot solve this problem through dialogue as there is no scope of having peaceful talks with them."

5. AUDIENCE SITTING

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIA'S INTERIOR SECRETARY, R K SINGH, SAYING: "The overground apparatus like several NGOs (non government organisations) campaign for them (Maoists) saying that they are fighting for the rights of poor and tribals. It is a mere excuse as most of the people killed by them are innocent poor tribals. It is their propaganda, as they are fighting for power and having full control over the area. In the areas controlled by them, the people have to pay taxes in order to work or establish a business. The Maoists establish their own justice system and we are fighting against their ideology. They punish and kill innocent people according to their judicial system."

7. AUDIENCE SITTING

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIA'S INTERIOR SECRETARY, R K SINGH, SAYING: "The interior ministry has a lot of challenges before them and I am confident that we are united in this internal war for keeping our country protected."

9. POLICE OFFICIALS SITTING

10. SINGH SITTING ON STAGE

STORY: Calling India's internal challenges 'grave', federal Interior Secretary, Raj Kumar Singh on Monday (April 02) said that the Maoist rebels did not believe in peaceful talks but practiced violence.

Singh said this after inaugurating the sector headquarters of the Indo -Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in capital Patna city of eastern India's Bihar state.

The federal Interior secretary said that the Maoists' violent activities were a threat to India's internal security.

"The internal challenges of the country are very difficult like Maoism. In the past few days several police officials were killed by the Maoists. This is an internal war and we should not believe on others. Our enemy believes in violence and there is no other option to tackle them. We cannot solve this problem through dialogue as there is no scope of having peaceful talks with them," said Singh.

A roadside bomb triggered by suspected Maoist guerrillas killed 11 policemen and injured 29 in a remote part of the western Indian state of Maharashtra on Tuesday (March 27), in the latest show of the rebels' strength.

The personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were travelling on a bus clearing mines in a forested region known for Maoist activity when the blast took place.

Singh said Maoists were getting support from several non- government organisations that campaigned for the rebel groups in spreading terror among the innocent villagers.

In a scathing attack on the Maoist ideology, Raj Kumar Singh said that the ultras were operating in areas which are rich in natural resources, in order to affect the economy of the country.

"The over ground apparatus like several NGOs (non government organisations) campaign for them (Maoists) saying that they are fighting for the rights of poor and tribals. It is a mere excuse as most of the people killed by them are innocent poor tribals. It is their propaganda' they are fighting for power and having full control over the area. In the areas controlled by them, the people have to pay taxes in order to work or establish a business. The Maoists establish their own justice system; we are fighting against their ideology. They punish and kill innocent people according to their judicial system," added Singh.

The Maoists say they are fighting for the rights of the poor marginal farmers and landless labourers and stage ambushes in the swathe of eastern and central India in which they have a strong presence.

The rebels draw recruits from tribal communities, who are poor and in areas where the state has little presence. Hundreds die each year in violence linked to the insurgency.

Singh further urged for a united fight against the Maoist rebels to get rid of the violent menace.

"The interior ministry has a lot of challenges before them and I am confident that we are united in this internal war for keeping our country protected," he added.

The Maoist insurgency has gripped nearly one third of the country in its violent tentacles, spreading into the interiors of 20 of India's 28 states. This comes despite strong measures initiated by the federal government in eradicating the ultras.

Also known as Naxals, the Maoists have battled the government for decades in a huge swathe of central India and say they are fighting for people left out of a long economic boom in Asia's third largest economy.

The government considers them India's biggest internal security threat.