CENTRAL Government’s offensive against the Maoists is yielding positive results as far as curbing the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) is concerned. The elimination of 30 Maoists in two latest encounters in Chhattisgarh, followed by Union Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah’s assertion that the Modi Government is moving forward with ‘ruthless approach’ against the Naxalites, may be viewed by LWE sympathisers as ‘war-mongering’. However, for common people and the tribals who have been suffering silently for decades, this war against Red terrorism is a welcome one. Since 1967, when the first spark of the scourge of Naxalism emerged on the scene at Naxalbari in West Bengal, the security disturbance assumed menacing proportions gradually.

 

Right from Kolkata to the hinterlands of Andhra Pradesh, it spread very fast owing to the failure of political dispensation of the time in gauging the gravity of the situation. The outlaws kept getting space and support to thrive because the Governments of the time hid behind phoney idealism and did not take befitting action. The people, especially tribals, continued suffering. The nation’s internal security developed a new threat as the Naxalites (radical versions of Marxists) kept on getting more radicalised by adopting Leninist and Maoist methods of violence. Unfortunately, despite the murder of thousands of innocent civilians and security forces personnel, the previous Governments kept treating LWE as a ‘socio-economic’ problem. ‘The Hitavada’ has been consistent in insisting that the LWE or Naxalism or Maoism needed to be crushed. Since the acts of Naxalites or Maoists -- of killing people, damaging public property, blocking development and industrialisation, keeping people in remote areas of the country deprived of better life -- amount to terrorism, they needed to be crushed. Since these outlaws spoke the language of overthrowing the Constitutionally established and democratically elected Government, of whichever party, their acts directly posed threat to national security as well as integrity and sovereignty. In such a situation, calling Maoism as even a ‘law and order’ problem would be a dilution. It was full-scale war that the ultras had waged against the Indian nation. If a State is in a state of war, it must shape its response accordingly. Against this backdrop, ‘The Hitavada’ expresses satisfaction that after several decades, finally there is a Government that has understood its language. The war waged by the Government of India against the Red terrorists is a welcome one. All the citizens of India must welcome this war. Because, the areas which these ultras are being flushed out from are emerging as symbols of hope. For example, Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra is fast emerging as an industrial hub with generation of a huge number of direct and indirect employment opportunities.

 

This holds the promise of better standard of living for the people in such previously Naxal-affected areas. This also holds the promise of better education, better health, better connectivity, and greater aspirations for the people. And, when there is promise of something better for the people, their participation in the process of nation’s development is more meaningful. The Maoists have been very clear about their goals, but the previous Governments had adopted a confused approach to dealing with anti-India forces. Hence, the previous Governments could not create the promise that people are seeing now. For that promise to be created, ruthless approach of war was the only option a strong Government needed to exercise. This, precisely, is happening now. Hence, this war is welcome!