Naxals, the Taliban Way?

NAXALS, THE TALIBAN WAY?

After Lalgarh and the sensational attacks in Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and other parts of the country, the naxalites have struck once again beheading an intelligence officer, the "Taliban" way. As expected, there was a hue and cry with the media dubbing them as the Indian Taliban and both the state and Central Governments vowing to exterminate the ultra left ultras, once and for all. Yet, the million dollar question is who will tie the bell around the cat’s neck? Equally important is the question how to tie the bell. At the end of the day, the Naxalite network is growing by leaps and bounds, with many an intellectual covertly and overtly supporting them.

Is Salwa Judum the answer? Is Naxalism merely a law and order problem? If we can sit across the table with die hard separatists in Kashmir, can’t we talk to our own boys in the backyard? What are the factors attracting a whole lot of youth to embrace the arms rightly or wrongly to achieve their idea of justice? Is it just adventure or the ever widening social disparities and inequities inherent in Indian society that’s motivating them? Is it a popular response to the rampant corruption and the inherent drawbacks in our system that has failed to respond to the aspirations of our marginalized and underprivileged people?

There are arguments and counter arguments. A senior police official from Chhattisgarh told me that the state is unable to carry out any development work as the naxalites blow up schools, bridges and hospitals meant for the people and therefore the only way out is to eliminate them first and thereafter, take forward the development tasks. Logical, eh?

But the answers are not that simple. Let us accept that there is widespread disenchantment and disillusionment with the system and call it psychological exploitation or whatsoever, a sizeable section of the tribals and other marginalized have come to the conclusion that only a recourse to arms may deliver them from the manifest problems.

Therefore, it becomes essential that apart from breaking the back of the naxalites physically, the state must make earnest efforts to reach out to the marginalized people and win back their confidence. Let these sections also be part of the 21st century super power dream we all see. Let them also get a place in the Indian sun, if not the moon.