Ranchi:
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's late night arrival in Ranchi and this early morning meeting with the state's governor and top officials have led to speculation: is the Centre planning an elaborate operation to strike at the Naxals in Jharkhand next week?
"These are words invented by the media. I mean by all of us here... "launch", "offensive"... these are words which are invented. I have never used those words," Chidambaram said on reports that the government is planning a possible major offensive against the Naxals next week.
But there may be more to this.
Jharkhand goes to the polls in the next two or three months, and with the recent spurt in Naxal violence in the state, an operation to flush out the Naxals seems to be the only way to ensure peaceful polls in the state.
In neighbouring West Bengal, also caught in the grip of Naxal violence, the government says most Maoists have received training, and operate from neighbouring Jharkhand.
Chidambaram said, "It's the duty of the West Bengal government to maintain law and order in the state. The Central government will provide all assistance to fight Naxals."
About Jharkhand, the home minister expressed confidence that the state police would be able to tackle the Naxal menace on its own. "Whatever is to be done to the Naxalites will be done by the state police. Elections will take place peacefully. I do not think the problem of the Naxalites will in any way come in the way of holding, free and fair elections," he said.
The home minister's guarded words, perhaps understandable... as they came while the government was still trying to ensure the release of a kidnapped policeman in West Bengal. But an all-out offensive against Naxals in Jharkhand seems more inevitable than ever before.