On a hot Tuesday afternoon, (April 6, 2010), I went to the office pantry for lunch assuming it to be a normal day. But on entering I realised, that for a change, everyone was intensely watching the news channel.
The flash said, "Maoists butcher 74 Jawans". This was the breaking news that covered all the news channels, irrespective of the language -- english, hindi, bangla etc.
Since then I have been seeing many different opinion on the subject, in different style. From graphical images with timelines in print, to shouting journalist on TV, to serious tone of foreign print, debates on face book and columns and sarcastic blog -- http://thusspakehriday.blogspot.com/2010/04/smile-now-ms-roy.html -- (this was different to me).
There are few things that are difficult to understand seeing the various debate. Why don’t people try and move forward and look for a proper solution? Why get stuck to a single point of view and go around proving the other side is wrong? Why focus only on history and not look to future? Why look only at the future and not consider the history? And there are many other questions that we all have but lets not go there for now.
Factually, the thing none can deny is— a loss of human life is wrong.
We for the sake of simplicity have the habit of making things too simple and then not get anywhere. So below are given the different aspects and each is dealt separately. Because this issue is complex.
What is happening?
In the name of growth there is exploitation. Brands have failed in countries because they did not address the cultural factor. Similarly, industrial development without working on neither the sustainability front nor on understanding the culture of the place or working to bring the inclusive growth will not be real growth. it becomes exploitation.
To fight the exploitation there is extortion. There have been many reports that extortions are collected from the businesses/industrialist to run the naxalism. Coming to this point, how come naxalites don’t fight those who exploit nature in the form of cutting sandal trees? how is it that certain industries face the threat of naxal especially PSUs while others don't. It is common knowledge that coal and mining mafia are the biggest exploiters but how come they are not not under naxal threat, ever?
Politicians sharing the bed with Naxals. While Shibhu Soren was not keen in solving the naxals in Jharkand, as they had helped him win the elections. Many questions have been raised on Mamata’s covert support for the naxals -- remember the Rajdhani episode.
To deal with extortion, raging atrocities. While it is true, that there has been extortion at a local level also, where the naxals came and killed villagers for not supporting them but that does not justify the stand the government took by forming Salwa Judum who went about raping and killing (both covered in tehelka)
Settling scores in the garb of naxals. MCC, Ranvir Sena and PWG are treated as part of the naxals in the region of Bihar. Most of the killings done by these groups are not against the state as much as they are caste wars.
What will not solve the problem?
Bringing in military and air-force will not solve the problem. Because this is a different sort of warfare, this is not a conventional war where we are fighting a force that can easily be distinguished. Typical military can only deal with external threats better or with threats that do not involve the population from where the army is raised.
The other thing one must remember is, any approach where one expects the results to show up in matter of few weeks or months, will not work. The current generation of leaders would have seen this problem from their childhood or since their teens. Therefore, dealing with a brash mentality will not be easy. These people will not come to the table so fast. They have not seen peace long enough to believe in it.
What will work?
A strategy where all parties can be put on a similar platform be used. The local population should be given primacy; all the efforts of rehabilitating the tribal areas and securing them should be made. This is basically not an easy.
It be ensured that the local MP/MLA is present his/her area for min of 200 days a year (out of 365). Speeches and talks of leaders in the area are recorded, to ensure that if speeches are inflammatory then those politicians be remanded and disturbances are controlled. Choppers, para-military forces and technology should be used to provide them with cover and strength to deal with the naxals.
Any industrialisation in the area should include the tribals, other locals and special emphasis be laid on a company’s profit but the environmental and local population’s grievances.
Borders with Bangladesh and Nepal are manned as much as possible. Because banning ammunition is an important part to deal with them. If there is any logistics help from outside the border then that should be dealt with promptly. Similarly if ammunitions is traced to factories in India then loopholes should be plugged.
We must understand that a problem brewing for 40 years will not get solved in just 40 weeks. So lets not try and do that.
