The government said today it has the legitimate right to use as much force as necessary to regain control of areas dominated by the Maoists and made it clear that talks with them could only take place if the ultras abjured violence.

Terming naxalism as a "graver problem" than jihadi terrorism, Home Minister P Chidambaram vowed to effectively tackle the threat from Maoists, who have declared a war against the Indian state, before the term of the government ends.

Chidambaram said the goal of the Maoists was armed liberation struggle and the sole purpose was to seize power.

He was speaking at a concalve here.