Denying that the Salwa Judum was sponsored by the state, Chief Minister Raman Singh said, "We will give protection to the tribals who are carrying out campaigns against Maoists for peace in the state." "Salwa Judum had not been sponsored by the state government. It was a mass movement executed by the tribals themselves against the Maoists," Singh, whose state is the worst affected by Left militancy, told reporters.
He also communicated this during the high-level meeting of Chief Ministers of naxal affected states organised by Union Home Ministry here.
"I also discussed it at the Chief Minister's meeting and stated that we will continue providing protection to the tribals who are engaged in anti-Maoist campaign or somehow helping the government in carrying out counter-extremism operations in the state," Singh said.
He appreciated the setting up of Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA) by the Centre saying, "it is good initiative taken by the Centre".
"We have been assured at the meeting that Centre will provide us two battalions of COBRA to support anti-naxal operations in the state," he said.
During the meet, Singh said he highlighted the need for formulating an "integrated action plan" to counter terrorism and naxalism.
"During the meet, there was a common consensus on the point that joint operations should be carried out by the states to curb inter-state activity of the extremists," the Chief Minister said. Singh welcomed the formation of NIA and enactment of new anti-terror law, saying there was a need for such an agency and a "tough" anti-terror law to fight terrorism and naxalism.
However, he felt that suggestions of the state governments could have been sought by the Centre to make the NIA and the anti-terror law more powerful before it was finalised at Parliament.
To a question, Singh said his government has been taking "every possible care" of the tribals who have been displaced during Salwa Judum.
"As many as 50,000 tribals have taken shelter at government-run camps in the state. We are proving full protection to them. We are working for their rehabilitation," he maintained.