Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram told the Rajya Sabha during Question Hour on July 15 that the services of a military adviser had been enlisted to draw up a joint action plan (by States) to deal with the naxalite problem. He told the members that the government would pursue a two-pronged approach to deal with the menace: police action to secure the ground followed by developmental work. He also admitted that the Ministry had underestimated the problem of left-wing extremism and that the naxalites had extended their area of influence1.

• 1. “Pak raises bunkers close to IB: DG BSF”, Daily Excelsior, July 15, 2009, at http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/09july15/news.htm#3