The Hindu Business Line : Combating Naxalism

OVER one-third of India is affected by Naxalite violence. Far from being contained, naxalite ideology seems to be spreading. In the last two years alone, nearly 35 more districts have come under its impact, taking the number of districts affected to 159 out of a total of 493.

The People's War Group (PWG) and entities having affinity with it have in their grip parts of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh. The States concerned face a formidable challenge following the link-up between the Maoist Communist Centre of Nepal and the PWG to form the Communist Party of India (Maoists) and the bonds they have forged with LTTE and extremist groups of the region.

There have been unconfirmed reports of dalliance with ISI of Pakistan as well. The naxalite leadership is said to command resources of the order of Rs 150 crore.

In this context, the Chennai Chapter of the Observer Research Foundation has done a great service by organising a national seminar on January 28-29, in which persons drawn from politics, the government, academia, civil society and public life discussed the causes, consequences and cure of the serious "disorder" (as Mr D. Raja, National Secretary, CPI, put it) of naxalism afflicting the body politic.

The seminar brought to light several aspects not widely known. Naxalites have been able to make inroads precisely in those areas whose population predominantly comprises adivasis, dalits and the landless. A survey says that 90 per cent of them are below poverty line. It is clear, then, socio-economic factors, such as social injustice and discrimination, lack of access to land, want of livelihood, oppression of landlords, higher castes and money-lenders, and callousness of not only bureaucrats and the police, but also the ruling political class to the plight of the deprived and disadvantaged sections, provide the fertile breeding ground for naxalism.

It will, therefore, be wrong to view it as a law and order problem or naxalites as criminals deserving to be crushed with an iron hand. The real cure for naxalism can come about only by removing the underlying causes by vigorously implementing worthwhile laws and policies that exist and not giving scope to further exploitation or deterioration.

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