IAF will be allowed to fire back at Naxals after safeguards: Antony Naxal Maoists is the most dangerous
inter security threat in India, our prime minister said. If that is so, then the
government should act decisively to finish this problem altogether.
The Maoists have certain ideals unlike the terrorists’ organizations in Pakistan. Those ideals are right or wrong are debatable, and the government at the state level as well as central level must take appropriate action with a certain period to crush this problem. The ill-equipped home guards and police force are unable to tackle the Maoists, which is proved beyond doubt on many instances. Why the government is so lethargic in this matter is beyond apprehension. Although we know, the government decisions on any matter takes hell of a time, yet the public pressure might change the system is our futile efforts.
First, the news came that the Indian Air Force will not be allowed to fire at Naxals, and now the news is that they will be allowed to fire only in self-defence. Is not it ironic that you allow somebody to attack you, and then you defend yourself? What kind of logic is that? Our defence minister A K Antony reiterated the old stand that the armed forces would not take part in the offensive operations against Maoists, but would be allowed to shoot back in self-defence. The government is certainly not sincere to bring this problem to halt for reasons known better to them. Army is deployed often to help people in natural catastrophes. But, army cannot be deployed to man made catastrophes, what is this? The minister said that no proposal have come forward for the engagement of IAF combating the Maoists; that may be true, but when we look at the matter from the bigger perspective, the whole government is responsible for this type of menace in the country for such a long time.
We hope, the good sense will prevail and the government will put sincere and honest efforts to curb this problem at the root level.
evacuation. There is no proposal to engage the IAF in a combat role," he said.
Express news service