Friday, May 26 2006 16:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The CPI(M) today (May 26, 2006) expressed concern over Chhattisgarh government welcoming a US offer to assist in anti-Naxal operations and asked the Centre to warn the state government to desist from such a move.

"The US has no business in involving itself in internal security and law and order issues. The attitude of the BJP state government is condemnable as no state government has the right to involve foreign countries in internal security matters," the party Polit Bureau said in a statement.

Reports quoting a senior Chhattisgarh Home Department official had said that the state government had welcomed the offer, made during the visit of two American officials to Raipur, to fight naxalism.

The CPI(M) asked the Centre to immediately clarify the situation and ask the state government to desist from such activities.

"It should also convey to the US Embassy that such involvement in the politics and internal security matters of India is unacceptable", the party said.

The CPI(M) also condemned yesterday's terrorist attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir and said the state government and the administration have been unable to take effective steps so far to check these attacks.

It also asked the Centre to assist the Jammu and Kashmir government to help security forces identify and crackdown on the terror network.