Hold dialogue with Maoists: Lalu suggests Govt

Expressing serious concern over naxal violence in Bihar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad suggested the government to hold dialogue with them and try to bring the naxalites to the mainstream.

Expressing serious concern over naxal violence in Bihar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Tuesday suggested the government to hold dialogue with them and try to bring the naxalites to the mainstream.

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The government should take initiative to hold dialogue with the naxalites and relentlessly endeavour to bring them to the social mainstream, Lalu said.

"The naxalism has come to Bihar from West Bengal and has now now expanded its base widely in most parts of the state," Prasad said while participating in 'Hindustan Samagam', a conference organised by Hindustan Times group in Patna.

Referring to the survey carried out by a weekly that Bihar ranked lowest among the states in terms of per capita investment, besides lagging behind in education, health and infrastructure, Prasad said Bihar needed "a special care and treatment" unlike the "routine treatment" being meted out to other states.

"If India has to progress, Bihar can't be ignored... special care is required for the state," he said and alleged that Bihar had been "victim of step-motherly treatment at the hands of the Centre."

"We have federal structure and what is required is that a state can't be deprived of its right... after all, by treating Bihar as a special case, the Centre is not not going to bestow an undue favour," he said.