‘Centre must take final call’

New Delhi, April 29: The Centre has to take a final call on salwa judum, the controversial anti-Naxalite movement, initiated by the Chhattisgarh government.

Distancing itself from the movement, the Central Reserve Police Force on Monday said that it is upto the government whether to continue or discontinue with the movement which has reportedly led to thousands of tribals living disturbed lives in fortified camps in Chattisgarh.

Refusing to comment on salwa judum, the new director-general of CRPF V.K. Joshi on Monday said he had no idea about the work of the controversial anti-Naxalite movement. "The continuation or to discontinue salwa judum is a policy decision of the government," Mr Joshi said, adding, "I do not know whether the government wants to have salwa judum or not."

Responding to a question whether he had any meeting with the representatives of salwa judum or government, Mr Joshi said, "I did not have any meeting on this issue. Let me visit Chhattisgarh and let me inquire what they have done in the past and what they are doing now, and then, if the government asks my opinion, I will submit my report."

According to home ministry sources, there are about 35 salwa judum camps, called "relief camps", in every districts of Chhattisgarh. On an average, each camp consists of 1,500-2,000 people and in some other areas, there are about 5,000 people in a single camp.

Recently, the Administrative Reforms Commission asked the government to take a serious relook into the policy of salwa judum being followed in the worst Naxal affected state of Chhattisgarh.