Oslo meet favours spreading awareness on Naxal threat

Oslo, April 12: Bringing together top leaders and experts from diverse backgrounds, a conference on peace and reconciliation in South Asia here has favoured efforts to spread awareness in Europe on the problem of Naxalism faced by India and ways to resolve it.

The conference, which focused on the internal armed conflicts in India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Nepal, concluded yesterday calling upon all the stakeholders to opt for peaceful means and restraint while dealing with their respective situations.

"The problem of Naxalism has grown exponentially in the past few years. It is being identified by the Indian government as the single most dangerous internal security threat and affects nearly one-third of the total districts," Spiritual Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, whose `The Art of Living Foundation` organised the meet, said.

"It is very important that it comes to the notice of international community, especially European nations, who can further help us in dealing with it," he said.

"Also, through this conference, we appeal to Sri Lankan government, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Buddhist monks in China, Chinese government, Myanmar regime...Everyone for peace and restraint, and to have a preference for coming to the table for resolution of issues," the Indian spiritual guru said in his concluding remarks yesterday.

He insisted that in present circumstances, "spirituality" was the only option left for a credible, long-term solution to the problems.

Bureau Report