The Centre should have "direct talks" with the states instead of speaking through the media on "a sensitive issue" like Maoist menace, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said on Friday.

"The Centre should take states into confidence and hold direct talks with the states," Kumar said while commenting on Chidambaram's statement that he did not turn up at a recent meeting in Kolkata.

The Naxal-affected states of West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand met in Kolkata in February last for a high-level meeting summoned by Home Minister to tackle the problem.

"I have participated in several meetings called by Prime Minister in New Delhi... I deputed my officials including the home secretary and DGP from Bihar to attend Chidambaram's meeting at Kolkata," Kumar countered.

"People should know that the home secretary and DGP can't attend any meeting without my consent," he said.

The chief minister said even some senior Congress leaders had resented Chidambaram's approach towards the issue.

"We will not not go back when it becomes necessary to take police action (against the Maoists)," he said.

Kumar said his party's view was that development could counter the Naxal problem

"Rays of development should reach all sections of the society at the grassroot level... and development is the only alternative which can solve the problem," he said.

"We have to ensure full control on corruption and see that benefits of development reach to deprived and oppressed sections of the society."

The Bihar government had started 'Aapki Sarkar Aapke Dwar (the government at your doors)' programme under 67 panchayats in the state to counter the problem, he added.