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New Delhi: Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh on Saturday expressed pity on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans killed by the Naxals.

Interacting with CNN-IBN Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai, Singh said he felt sorry for the CRPF jawans as they were deputed in Naxal infested areas without having the required expertise.

"I pity the CRPF. They come from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and get little help from Chhattisgarh state. They have no idea of the area," Singh said.

He stressed on the need for local recruitment to deal with the Naxal problem.

"I have been saying this, I say it again that there should be a change in recruitment and local people should be used," added Singh.

Singh said that the politicians and the bureaucrats were to blame for the Naxal menace in the country.

Replying to a question posted by an IBNLive.com viewer, Singh denied having any dispute with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram over the strategy on tackling the Naxal problem.

"I have always been saying that this is a socio-economic and a law and order issue. I have always been saying that in any society, until and unless you have people living in these areas on your side, you will not be able to tackle this issue," Singh said.

He also spoke on the controversy surrounding his statement made in Azamgarh and said that he never differentiated between Hindus and Muslims while tackling terrorism.

More on: Naxals, Digvijay Singh, terrorism, P Chidambaram, CRPF