ACCESS DENIED

Neither naxalism nor terrorism are new to India. Both of them co-exist from last 4-5 decades in different forms and in different areas. Now the viruses of violence have spread all over the country ruining its chances to become a global super power. The story of Punjab terrorism is not unknown to anyone, neither to ongoing battle in J & K.... at 8% economic growth we are made to believe that India is world’s 2^nd fastest growing economy! But we still wake up to incidents of innocents being killed by terrorists and Maoists every day. All of us common man is feeling the same: what the hll is wrong with these people?? Why are they bloody spreading violence???

Yet we have not been able to find any answer. Naxalism started as a revolution in late 60s in west Bengal to see the end of Jamindaari and give equal wrights to the poor. It went silent for decades and have come back with a bang to destroy peace! I look at naxalism from two different angles...one which is fighting against poverty, against the corrupt administration and the exploitation of tribals by the so called babus. The other is different...its only using the same name as naxals but has a very different agenda! Supported by opposition political parties practically in every state, they have grown and grown and grown beyond control... they are simply not interested with any ideology or peace! They talk about toppling the democracy by force of AK 47.

Ironically the rise of both these naxals are due to same reasons! We often blame USA for giving birth to muslim terrorism during the cold war against USSR. Today’s global terrorism is just the result of that which the Americans understand well after 26/11. India has done the same in its own land.... overlooking corruption and even encouraging exploitation of tribals sometime! When all means of getting access to your wrights are denied then violence becomes the last option! Whether violence is the appropriate weapon or not is matter of debate but it definitely gives power to the people who use it.

To tell you a real and recent story: I was travelling to KBK districts of Orissa in the first week of this month for some work. Those who don’t know KBK; Its the poorest part of Asia and has a tribal population over 70% and extremely mineral rich. On my way from Rayagad to Kashipur, got caught up on the way by a bandh called by locals and naxals. It was to protest the Aditya Birla group owned Utkal Alumnia’s injustice towards the local people. Utkal Alumina has a huge plant nearby where thousands of workers are employed but only a handful of them are locals. When the company is utilising resources from local areas, isn’t it their responsibility to employ locals? Isnt it the responsibility of the Govt. to ensure that the locals get trained and equipped with appropriate skills to get job? Nobody has done their job properly thats why people are taking support from naxals to get their wrights.

The next day, visited a village in Kalahandi district’s poorest taluk, i.e T. Rampur. The village had nothing 3-4 months back, no water, no power and no roads. No kerosene and ration on time...every family is under the poverty line! But things have changed drastically in last 3-4 months! Thanks to the naxals...they came here and organised a meeting with the villagers, made a list of works to be done and put a poster in the block office with a warning that ‘If the works are not done’ then people responsible will be killed! Now I could see a PMGSY road under construction, a school building coming up, people getting ration and kerosene on time and even the BDO has visited the village 3 times from then.

Why will the people not support naxals then? Can we blame the naxals in this case?

Yes, there are elements who name themselves naxals but are pure politicians who are not able to take the democratic route and win. All the violence are to be blamed on them....Its happening with active support from all the political parties! Can you believe Mamata Banerjee and Budhhadev babu not knowing where Kishenji is hiding?

Who knows the train accident that happened yesterday is not the work of political contractors? The logic is the west Bengal panchayats and municipal elections tomorrow! Make your own conclusions...

Everybody is talking about tough action, military force , air power etc etc but is that the only solution? Answer is a BIG NO!!! Why? because the problem is not single sided....so how can be the solution be single sided one? Those who are taking extreme violence route should be identified and killed....no trials! And those who are just taking route of violence to teach a lesson to the corrupt babus should be invited for talks and given stake in the development decision making of their respective areas.

A strong suggestion is to create a naxal type force of the Govt. to tackle corruption in the tribal regions. The force should be authorised to punish the corrupts with extreme punishments on the spot and ensure that the whole administration is cleaned and made efficient. If this is done with legitimacy, then naturally the genuine naxalism will come to an end and the state can regain the lost faith among people. The non-genuine naxals can then be tackled with toughest possible manner....

Access of tribals to their own wrights can not be denied anymore!