Shun violence, contribute to development: Rajnath tells Naxals

Dhanbad, Jharkhand: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said Maoists should shun the path of violence as there is no space for violence in a democracy.

Addressing a meeting at Baghmara in Dhanbad district hours before the end of campaigning before the fourth of the five-phase polling on 14 December, he appealed to the rebels to join the mainstream for all round development of the region.

“In democracy there is no space for violence. Naxalites must drop weapons and contribute in the development of villages as well as state,” Singh said.

Campaigning for two successive days in the coal belt, the minister said Naxal menace had hindered progress in some parts of the country and it was time that Naxalites abjure violence and join the mainstream of the society.

The Narendra Modi government is serious in providing employment opportunities to the youth and in this regard skill development schemes and agriculture is being promoted on priority, he said and appealed to the people of all religions and castes to work unitedly and make the nation strong.

“125 crore jansankhya desh ki bojh nahi ek Janashakti hai use shram shakti mein badla jayega (the population is not a burden, but will be turned into human resource),” Singh said.

PTI