Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

A Central Intelligence Committee report to the prime minister has exposed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's slack approach in tackling Maoists in the state which, the report says, is the reason why there has been a 41 per cent rise in casualties in Maoist violence this year compared to 2012.The report warns of a major attack by Maoists in the state soon. Though this report has raised many eyebrows, Nitish has rubbished the report maintaining that it was prepared by the central agencies for the media.Among other observations, the report says Bihar utilised just 67 per cent of the fund under Integrated Action Plan while Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh utilised 84 per cent and 78 per cent respectively. Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand have been using funds aggressively between 76 and 79 per cent.Instead of taking the report seriously, Nitish Kumar rubbished the report pointing out that it was meant only for the media. The lackadaisical approach towards this report has given an opportunity to the Opposition in the state to hit out at him. BJP has maintained that Nitish was soft on Maoists due to vote bank compulsions ahead of the 2014 General Elections."I am not aware of the report and all this is rubbish. Integrated Action Plan is my idea. I don't know who has given this report. Naxal menace can't be measured so easily, this problem is in every state. We have taken action against Naxals and have focused on development of that area. What kind of report is this which media has and I don't? This report must have been prepared for media," Kumar said.BJP leader Giriraj Singh countered, "Nitish Kumar is not understanding that Naxals have links with terrorists nowadays. Bihar has become a soft zone for terrorists nowadays. Funds meant for anti-Naxal operations are not used. Bihar has become a soft zone, one person responsible for this is Nitish Kumar, the Bihar government has no Naxal policy. Nitish is soft because of vote bank politics."The report also says top Maoist leaders who are lodged inside various jails in Bihar are guiding their cadres from inside the jail.38 persons killed till August 2013 including 13 securitymen while the figure was 25 in 2012.While there has been a decline in Maoist violence in other states, Bihar has seen a spike.Not a single Maoist killed in Bihar in anti-Maoist operations in 2013 while 5 were killed in 2012.Only 6 encounters with Maoists have taken place till August 2013 while the figure was 12 in 2012 and 17 in 2011.Recovery of weapons till August 2013 was only 47 while it was 171 in 2011.Bihar utilised 67 per cent of the funds under Integrated Action Plan while Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh utilised 84 per cent and 78 per cent, respectively. Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand utilised funds around 76-79 per cent.Incidents of Maoist violence remain almost same in 2012 and 2013--- 129 incidents in 2013 and 130 in 2012.