New Delhi: Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh on Thursday said communalism and fundamentalism, which is linked to terrorism, are equal threats to internal security.
"I think, if not more dangerous, it (communalism) is as dangerous as left wing extremism," said Singh, while participating in a discussion on Naxalism at India Habitat Centre, in New Delhi on Thursday.
The discussion was held as part of the formal book release of Rahul Pandita's "Hello Bastar: The untold story of India's Maoist Movement".
The Congress leader also made it clear that on the issue of Naxalism, he was never on a confrontation with the Home Minister, with whom he has worked for a number of years together.
"The issue is simple; I have always followed the Congress line throughout. The Congress has always felt it is a socio-economic problem and it has to be dealt with in that order."
Singh said, "I would place communalism and fundamentalism, which is linked to terrorism, as an equal threat to internal security. I think if not more dangerous, it is as dangerous as left wing extremism."
Explaining the problem of Naxalism, the former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh said, the real issue was lack of governance and empowerment of people and control on natural resources.
He also felt that "the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act (PESA), which would enable proper resettlement of tribals and prevent future displacements, if implemented properly, can faster resolve the issue of naxalism, as it does empower people in tribal areas."
Singh said: "unfortunately even after Independence the inherent rights of the tribals did not get transferred to the forest dwellers and continued to rest with the state and that is where the conflict started from".
"There is a dire need for a re-look at the PESA Act and until and unless you frame the rules properly, the Act cannot be implemented."
"Until or unless we win over the tribals, this problem cannot be tackled. We must first educate the people and then empower them legally. Until they are aware of their rights, their actual empowerment cannot take place."
Suggesting participatory development as a solution to tackling Naxalism, Singh said, it can easily be reduced "if you transfer the natural resources to tribals and forest dwellers, eliminate contractors and make the tribals and dwellers partners in governance."
Talking about Salwa Judum, Digvijaya said "it was badly handled". He added that it came into existence following some conflict between the tribal families and left wing extremists.
Prior to this, there was a fight between the state and left wing extremists. He added though it did not exist earlier, it came into being after the state of Chhattisgarh was formed."
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