How not to Address the Naxal Problem

In a rather lengthy article, Manjeet Kriplani discusses the Naxal problem. While she correctly echoes what we all knew–that the Naxals pose the biggest threat to India’s internal security–she quickly bares her sympathies.

Judging from their past experience with development, the tribals have a right to be afraid of the mining and building that threaten to change their lands. “Tribals in India, like all indigenous people, are already the most displaced people in the country, having made way for major dams and other projects,” says Meenakshi Ganguly,

The Naxal problem is essentially political. When it is suitable, politicians sleep with Naxals in one bed and with business houses on the other. A dangerous juggling act, which has spelt peril for the nation’s internal security. But that’s not what she gets at.

Undeniably, the Naxals are viewed as Robin Hoods for many of their efforts. “The tribals have benefited economically thanks to the Naxals,” says human rights lawyer K. Balagopal, who has defended captured Naxalites in court cases. In Maharashtra, tribals pick tender tendu leaves, which are rolled to make a cigarette called a “bidi.” Contractors used to pay them the equivalent of a penny for picking 1,000 leaves from the surrounding forest. The contractors would then take the leaves to the factory owners and sell them for a huge markup. But the Naxals intervened, threatening the contractors and demanding better wages. Since 2002 the contractors have increased the price to about $4 per 1,000 leaves.

Self-explanatory.

States like Chhattisgarh, whose ill-trained police force is overwhelmed, have unleashed vigilantes on the Naxalites and the tribals and given the force arms and special protection under the law. The vigilantes, called Salwa Judum (”Peace Mission”), have made homeless an estimated 52,000 tribals, who have fled to poorly run, disease-infested government camps. Allegations of rape and unprovoked killings have dogged the Salwa Judum. Efforts to reach Salwa Judum were unsuccessful, but the state government has vigorously defended the group.

So Salwa Judum is at fault. Expectedly. To bolster this shameful assertion, she pitches the pseudo historian, Ramachandra Guha.

The problem is so severe that, in March, a public interest lawsuit was filed in India’s Supreme Court by noted historian Ramachandra Guha, who demanded an investigation into Salwa Judum’s activities.

I have noted many times earlier that the Naxal sympathizers in the media and academia are the worst scums than the armed Naxals themselves.

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