Responding to a query raised during question hour in Lok Sabha today, the Minister of State for Home Mr Sri Prakash Jaiswal said that the Maoist violence is a major threat to the internal security of the country. Naxalite violence could only be curbed if the state governments take strong measures against the rebels, he said.

Praising the efforts of the Andhra Pradesh government Jaiswal said that there had been a 75 percent decline in the incidents of Naxal violence in AP following the stern steps taken by the state government. He also said that the Centre backed the efforts of the AP government to invite Naxalites to negotiating table. Union Government is also supporting similar attempts by the Chhattisgarh government.

Unfolding the government's future course of action, Jaiswal informed the members that in order to counter Maoists, the government has decided to raise a specialized Indian Reserve Battalion within a timeframe of three years. “The government has earmarked over 100 crore for IRB. These battalions would be named as Cobra Battalion,” he said.#