Ops to continue till Naxals agree for talks: PC

Clearing the air on reports that Jharkhand had halted the anti-naxal offensive,the Home Minister said,”The Chief Minister came with his two deputies,Home Secretary and DGP.

“He (Soren) told me that there is no change in policy of Jharkhand government and that he is on board with other chief ministers of naxal-affected states on the strategy being worked out,” Chidambaram said.

The Home Minister defended Soren’s decision to invite Maoists for talks saying,”He made the offer but got no response so far…I have also made an offer.”

After his meeting with the Home Minister,Soren ruled out any difference with the Centre on the issue of controlling Maoist violence and expressed his resolve in checking the menace.

Soren said his government was not opposed to any offensive against Maoists.

“We discussed developmental issues and the problem of Naxalism. We have been trying to control the menace (Naxalism) and will continue to do so,” Soren said.

This was his first meeting with Chidambaram after he took over the reins of the state last month. Asked about the presence of central security forces to take on Naxalites in Jharkhand,he said,”There has been a decision from the Central government on sending forces for operation ‘Green Hunt’. We also have that force. We welcome them.”

Chidambaram had said recently that Jharkhand would be included in the anti-Naxal operations after discussions with the state government.

Jharkhand,which shares its border with Orissa,West Bengal,Chhattisgarh,Bihar and Uttar Pradesh,has Maoist presence in 20 of its 24 districts.