Chidambaram voices concern over NE insurgency

Voicing concern over leaders of various insurgent groups in the northeast taking shelter in neighbouring countries, Union home minister P Chidambaram said on Monday that they must be "exposed".

Voicing concern over leaders of various insurgent groups in the northeast taking shelter in neighbouring countries, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said on Monday that they must be "exposed".

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"Many of those leading the insurgency are hiding in Myanmar and Bangladesh and they must be exposed," he said, talking about the problem gripping several states in the northeast.

Delivering the 4th Nani Palkhiwala memorial lecture, the minister said government was already engaged in talks with a faction of Naga rebels and hoped peace would be restored in Nagaland.

Chidambaram said some rebels of Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel faction), active in North Cachar Hills of Assam, had recently surrendered to join the mainstream and hoped other groups in the restive region would emulate them.

Talking about the threat of Naxalism, Chidambaram deplored that a section of the civil society romanticised left extremism. "This is a sad fact that a section of civil society romanticises the naxalite movement."

Asking the naxalite leaders to join political mainstream, he said if Maoists in Nepal could take part in elections what stopped their Indian counterparts from becoming an active participant in democracy.