Should the government continue to view Maoist activities through the prism of security? Or is a more reasoned and nuanced approach necessary? Author Rahul Pandita joined IBNLive readers for an interaction on the issue.
Q. Bringing Naxal to main stream, is this solution to the problem? Asked by: Mans
A. The solution is to bring about development along with security operations and making sure there is minimum collateral damage.
Q. There are lot of murmurs going on about the role the christian missionaries play in supporting the Maoists. Is this true? Asked by: Anand
A. Except Kandhamal, where there have been murmurs about some kind of nexus with missionaries, there is no evidence anywhere else so far.
Q. Is deploying Army in Naxal-hit areas a solution to this? Asked by: Jay
A. Deploying army will be disastrous. The army is not meant for such counter insurgency operations. Thank God, the army top brass is not keen to be deployed in these regions.
Q. Who is supporting Maoists in terms of money and arms? Asked by: Rakka
A. The Maoists get a lot of money from levies they collect from local businesses and government contractors. There are also indications of corporate houses giving them "protection" money. The budget runs into a few hundred crores easily.
Q. Will this Naxal problem ever get solved or will it continue to exit? Asked by: Rohit
A. Looking at how the government is dealing with it, I don't think it will end in near future. The point is: even if the current Maoist leadership is eliminated, the ground conditions for such a rebellion remain there. So it may rear its head in some other form.
Q. Is Maoism a problem or a solution? Asked by: Raktim
A. The Maoists began as a solution to a problem, but I think they are now very much a part of the problem.
Q. Hi, I think Naxalism is an issue as crucial as poverty in India, and needs to to be addressed on an ongoing basis. Over the years, the relationship between Naxalites and the state has worsened. Do you think the State should be the first one to back down and engage in a dialogue? Asked by: Sromon Das
A. I don't think either side is interested in dialogue. But the State is not doing its job. Had it done its job, the Maoists wouldn't have been able to turn large swathes of land into liberated zones. Even after a civil-war kind of situation, the government is not learning any lesson. There will be more blood bath.
Q. We all pay our income tax religiously, yet we get pot hole roads, no electricity, poor infrastructure and health care, does that mean we all should take arms in our hands and behave the way Maoist have done. As long as they refuse to come to talks and believe state is an oppressor, I am sure this will continue. Asked by: SE
A. There is a difference between bad roads and bad hunger. The tribals only join Naxals when they are pushed against the wall. For decades, the government hasn't done anything for them. The Maoists have just come and filled the void. But instead of working for their welfare, they are busy fighting the State.
Q. Complete land reform through out India.. Abolish Zamindari ruthlessly (note in paper).. Maoism will simply vanish.. what is your view on this? Asked by: Ramchandran
A. The issue of land reforms and feudalism and grinding poverty remains at the heart of the Naxal problem. So, yes, you are right.
Q. Lawful or unlawful, violent or non violent.. whatever you say. Is not it a fact that Maoist are actually representing the downtrodden, the destitute, the poorest of the poor in our country when every other party actually betraying the mass? Asked by: Shrikanth
A. Well, yes, that was the impression for many years. And initially, the Maoists made a lot of difference. They threw away the unscrupulous businessmen and petty government officials who used to exploit the poor tribals. In many areas, they have done some development work. But now, their whole focus has shifted. The innocent tribals are becoming collateral damage in this war between the Maoists and the Indian State.
Q. Collateral damage is inescapable as when the security forces are fighting in urban areas as the Naxals don't carry a placard and it is difficult to separate the from innocent civilians. This is proved by history Ireland, Palestine, Pakistan, Sri Lanka even in India in J&K. Asked by: Anonymous
A. That does not mean that the security forces go around shooting innocent people. Also, if there has been a mistake once, then the forces should learn from it rather than repeat it.
Q. Do the politicians want to solve the problem? Don't they know that the tribals in these areas have been exploited by indutrialisation and it is no secret Backers that the politicians have their hands in this exploitation. Why can't we understand that we have to gain confidence of the tribals which would ensure that the Maoists don't have any backers? Asked by: Anonymous
A. You are right. We need to gain the confidence of the people. And it is so much achievable. Only if the politicians were serious about it!
Q. I don't think it is purely a security issue. It is a situation created and fueled by politicians of all types. This has to be addressed by development and serious action to be taken to ensure the tribals are not exploited. However, it is sickening to see that when security forces are targeted politicians make statements and forget about this. However now when they are targeted everyone is serious about resolving the issue (Sonia Gandhi crying, Rahul Gandhi trying to act tough etc). Do you feel that all our problems would be solved if the politicians are targeted? Hopefull not? Asked by: AKS
A. In a democracy, politicians are as much important as other pillars. But the country seems to be fast turning into an oligarchy where its political masters think only of themselves, caring nothing for the rest of the nation, especially its tribal population and other marginalised communities.
Q. We come across many people in trains and buses discussing and rejoicing Maoist attacks on police and political leaders. Are people getting more and more disillusioned from parliamentary democracy? Are Maoists slowly filling the void that is created by corrupt political leaders? Asked by: Akhilesh
A. The Maoists have filled this void long ago. Now more and more people in Naxal bastions are becoming disillusioned even with the Naxals.
Q. Can we believe the only way any problem could be solved is by targeting politicians and not innocent civilians and security personnel doing their duty? Asked by: AKS
A. Targeting people, killing them ruthlessly, can never be a solution or even a part of the solution to any problem. We should be clear about that.
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