'They seem to prefer guns to development'

Additional collector of Gadchiroli has openly criticized Home Minister P Chidambaram after his visit to the Naxal-hit region on Tuesday

THE additional collector of Gadchiroli has openly criticized Home Minister P Chidamabaram after the latter visited the Naxal-affected district on Tuesday to review anti-Naxal operations and development in the region.

"This problem can*t be solved by moving in a helicopter and holding meetings in an air-conditioned chamber.
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Chief Minister Prithiviraj Chavan has reportedly ordered action against Rajendra Kanfade for commenting flippantly about Home Minister P Chidambaram*s visit to the Naxal-hit area in Gadchiroli

I don*t think this visit will have any positive impact on Gadchiroli," said Rajendra Kanfade (57), who is also the deputy collector for land acquisition in the district.
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"A meeting of police officials, forest officials and officials from the collector*s office was supposed to be held during Chidambaram*s visit.

However, he called people only from the forest and police department.

Why were officials involved in development work made to sit out? We can win through development but it seems people are more interested in using guns," he said.

Following these comments, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has reportedly ordered action against Kanfade, who has only six months and three days left in office.
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When Kanfade was why he was taking on his own government, he said, "I have heard rumours (of action being taken), but I have not received any official confirmation.

I am not against the government. They have good policies but they aren*t implementing them. I am against people who don*t want the Naxalite issue to be solved so that funds can keep coming in.

On paper, these funds are used to counter Naxalites, but we don*t know where they are actually going." Kanfade is also positive that the government won*t take action against him.
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"The government is not made up of people who cannot digest the truth. I am sure that I will be rewarded with an extension of two years to continue my work in Gadchiroli," he said.

Kanfade said the notion that Naxalites prevent development work is baseless. "Not many officers visit the villages, which are supposedly Naxal-infested.

But, whenever they do go, they are welcomed. If they give the villagers a patient hearing and try solving their problems, the villagers are happy," he said.

Kanfade himself has visited many villages where his colleagues haven*t had the courage to venture.

He also invites people to visit Gadchiroli with the assurance that no one will harm them if they have good intentions not even the Naxalites.