Naxalism: The Enemy Within

Naxalism:The Enemy Within
*Saumitra Mohan

The way Naxal activism and related violence has been recurring with increasing frequency lately has really become a cause of serious concern for not only the integrity and security, but also the general well-being of this country. While neighbouring Nepal is witnessing a reconciliation with the Naxals, as reflected in latter’s participation in the new government, India continues to be a victim of their gory ways. The mainstreaming of the Naxal movement in Nepal hopefully marks the end of the Naxal movement in that country, India still is still groping in the darkness to size up the real problem and come out with a suitable response in the form of a well-coordinated strategy to break this wild and intractable stallion called Naxalism.

As of now, Naxal violence, today, has spread its tentacles from 156 districts in 13 states in September 2004 to 170 districts in 15 states in February 2005, affecting about 40 per cent of the geographical area of the country and 35 per cent of its population, if we are to believe recent intelligence reports. With the objective of establishing a ‘Compact Revolutionary Zone’ as typified by the Red Corridor, extending from the boondocks of North Bihar to the underdeveloped hinterland of Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka, in the heart of India, the Naxals aim to use the same, reportedly, for eventual seizure of the State Power leading to subsequent establishment of the Maoist State.

Be it the activism of Salwa Judum in Chhattisgarh, the attack on Jehanabad jail (resulting in freeing of about 340 prisoners and their leader Ajay Kanu) in Bihar, the heinous killing of Sunil Mahato, the JMM Member of Parliament or the recent attack on a police camp in Bastar killing about 56 policemen, Naxals have been evincing greater precision, penetration, organization and audacity in striking their chosen targets at will. Before that also, they have attacked many such symbols of state authority, mostly police, as witnessed in their incursions in Koraput in Orissa, Madhubani in Bihar, Giridih and Bokaro in Jharkhand and in Karnataka, killing hundreds of policemen, looting fire arms and money.

Transforming themselves into a modern guerilla force, Naxals, today, are equipped with sophisticated weapons and communication system. With the formation of a united outfit namely CPI (Maoist) along with the raising of an armed wing i.e. People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army through the merger of Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) and People’s War Group (PWG), the Naxal Movement has not only succeeded in getting over the problem of sanguinary infighting amongst them, but the Movement has also witnessed a shift in focus and strategy. Today, they are not only logistically better organized and better trained, they are also better motivated and better led.

With the programme of a New Democratic Revolution, the Naxals wish to attain their goals through the spread of disaffection amongst the rural poor, by creating an impression that the new economic policy, hegemonic and imperialistic as it is, is prejudicial to their interests. The newly acquired prosperity of the landlords, bourgeois traders and bureaucrats further annoys and frustrates them. They believe that the benefits of the Panchayati Raj have been cornered by a handful of well-to-do peasants. Hence, they have declared all landlords, big or small, and all bourgeois, powerful or petty, as class enemies and have been working for their elimination by violent means.

The new strategy is one of protracted armed struggle whose objective is not seizure of land, crops or other immediate goals, but the seizure of the state power. Within this perspective, participation in elections and engagements with the prevailing bourgeois democracy are rejected, and all efforts and attention are firmly focussed on revolutionary activities to undermine the state and seize power, by hook or by crook. They plan to mount further attacks against the symbols of ‘feudalism, imperialism and comprador bureaucratic capitalism’ and they also don’t mind supporting the struggle of nationalities for the self-determination, including the right to secession. They have also been paying special attention to mobilizing and organizing women as a mighty force of the bloody revolution they are waging.

The Naxals, so far, have refused to see and acknowledge as to how the benefits of a consociational federal democracy and a plural welfare state have reached all and sundry, thereby pointing to the achievements of the nation-building efforts all these past years owing to which the Indian State has successfully avoided the pitfalls of a failed state, as seen in many countries in Africa and Latin America. By ignoring the urges of a growing nation to develop without any fetters, the Naxalites are refusing to see the writing on the wall. They would do well to understand that nothing has ever been achieved through violence and violence as a means to any goal has been a treacherous monster and, as such, has always devoured the users like the fictional Frankenstein.

No form of government has proved to be better than democracy which has responded and evolved as per the genius of its locale. Indian democracy has also been evolving slowly and has shown resilience and strength with every passing day. If the Naxalites still feel the other way round, they should come forward to discuss the same across the table. After all, there is nothing in the world that can not be discussed and resolved across the table.

Already, government has been responding to their basic allegations of inequitable and inegalitarian development and has come forward with a slew of development proposals to address the said inequity. Their support to secessionist and separatist movement is also greatly misplaced and points to their garbled conception of politics. By doing so, they are only helping the cause of those who love to see this country grovel in the dust.

By indulging in the brazen and unprincipled acts of violence, they are not only hurting the developmental cause of their own Nation, but they are also thereby playing in the hands of our enemies. For the government, it would be advisable to continue its efforts to bring them aboard, while continuing its developmental efforts simultaneously, without compromising with the security and integrity of the country.

The Nepalese Naxalites have shown the way by laying down arms and joining the mainstream political process. Our home-grown Naxals ought to take a cue from them.