Koraput: Union home minister Rajnath Singh told Maoists the Centre was ready to hold talks if they shunned the path of violence and asked them to respect the Constitution of the country, while addressing a press meet at the BSF camp here Friday.
This would strengthen the democratic process and put the nation on the track of development, Singh added.
Earlier, the home minister was given a guard of honour after landing at the BSF helipad at about 10.30 am. Soon after, he attended a special review meeting at the conference hall of BSF which lasted for over an hour.
Singh appreciated the efforts of the paramilitary forces and police personnel engaged in the state to carry out anti-naxal operations. He laid emphasis on building required infrastructure to step up operations.
Speaking to the scribes on the occasion, the home minister spoke about the ‘Digital India’ campaign launched by the Prime Minister. “The NDA government aims at strengthening the economy of the country by binding people through banking organisations,” Singh said.
Rajnath emphasised on the need for deployment of more paramilitary forces in Orissa in the wake of an increased threat from extremists in neighbouring states like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. The home minister also spoke to jawans in the BSF camp.
Apart from BSF DG KK Sharma and Central Intelligence director Swapna Tiwari, others who attended the meeting included state home secretary Asit Tripathy, police DG BK Singh, CoBRA DG Durga Prasad, BSF IG AK Sharma, IG (Intelligence) GS Kote, IG (Operations) Soumendra Priyadarshi and additional DG (Intelligence) Sunil Roy. Besides, Police Housing Board director Manoj Chhapra, collector V Jaykumar, DIG S Saini, BSF’s intelligence DG Jaychandra Nayak, Koraput SP Charan Singh Mina and SPs of Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Nuapada and Kalahandi districts were present at the meeting.
Later, the minister left for Bhubaneswar by helicopter. Foolproof security arrangements were put in place by the police and BSF ahead of the visit of the Union home minister. PNN