Ambitious plan to weed out Naxalism in Bihar: Nitish newkerala.com, March.4,
2006

Patna: In a bid to curb the growing Naxal problem in the state, the Bihar
government will seek a special central package of Rs 21,000 crore to speed up
execution of various development schemes, undertake massive police modernisation
and improve condition of prisons.

"We have formulated an ambitious plan to weed out Naxalites in Bihar for which
we are seeking a special package of Rs 21,000 crore," Chief Minister Nitish
Kumar told reporters today.

Kumar said he would be leaving for New Delhi later this afternoon and request
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to grant a
special package for the state at the earliest.

He said he would make a formal request to the Centre for long-term help to check
extremist activities in the state.

Kumar said sincere efforts were underway for massive police modernisation and
help improve condition of jails in Bihar.

The NDA government has already launched 'sarkar apke dwar' (government at your
doorstep) programme aiming accelerated development in Naxal-hit areas of the
state while asking ultras to eschew path of violence and cooperate with his
government to give fresh impetus to development.

Earlier, Patna High Court had asked the state and Central government to take
serious steps and preventive measures to tackle the Naxal problem and undertake
police reforms in the state.

The court had also asked both the state and Union governments to furnish action
taken-cum-progress reports in this regard by March 28.

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