BHUBANESWAR: On a day Union Home Minister P Chidambaram promised to eliminate Naxalism in three years, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reeled out statistics to claim that Maoists drew less blood in Orissa. Drawing a parallel with other affected states, Naveen claimed in the Assembly that Maoist violence came down by 30 per cent during the first six months compared to the corresponding period last year. His statement comes at a time when Naxalite activities have spread to 25 of the 30 districts in the State and the radicals have been striking with alarming regularity. Replying to the debate on Home Department Budget, the Chief Minister took solace that the number of violent incidents in Orissa was less than that in the neighbouring states. In the first six months till June, 68 incidents, involving 42 deaths, were reported in Orissa. During the period, 312 incidents were reported in Chhattisgarh claiming 220 lives and 254 incidents, involving 76 deaths, were reported from Jharkhand. In West Bengal it was 143 deaths in 193 incidents. The discussion was held in the absence of the Congress and the BJP MLAs who have been boycotting the proceedings demanding resignation of the two coal scam tainted ministers. The Congress, however, lashed out at Naveen for the failure of the State Government to contain the Maoist menace. Addressing a media conference here, Deputy Leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Chakradhar Paik alleged that neglect of tribal areas has enabled the Maoists strengthen their base. The problem cannot be solved by police alone, Paik said and added there should be development initiatives in the tribal areas. The party was bitter that the Chief Minister did not take the people’s representatives of the areas into confidence. Naveen has not convened a single meeting of MLAs of the areas, into where the Maoists have made inroads in the recent years, Paik pointed out.