Saturday, May 29, 2010

Maoists Deny Involvement

It is now emerging that the Maoists are not behind the gruesome incident of the Gyaneshwari Expresss. Both the CPI(Maoist) and the PCAPA have denied any involvement. Apparently, on Friday night, the following statement was issued on behalf of the CPI(Maoist) WB State Committee. “We are in no way involved in this incident. We did not carry out any explosion in the railway line. Killing innocent people by sabotaging railway line is not our agenda. When we carry out any action, there are always some specific reasons behind. We also acknowledge responsibility for that. Whenever we commit mistakes we admit it. However, responsibility is being placed on us now for an incident in which we are in no way involved”.

The Hindustan Times of 29 May 2010 also carried a small mention of the denial by PCAPA (http://www.hindustantimes.com/special-news-report/News-Feed/78-die-in-train-crash-Naxals-blamed/Article1-549604.aspx) but the denial has been mostly unreported in the media.

While officials continued to blame the CPI (Maoists) and the PCAPA ( See Hindustan Times of 30th May 2010 http://www.hindustantimes.com/Victims-kin-hunt-for-bodies-Mamata-for-votes/H1-Article3-550507.aspx) the FIR registered on this incident does not mention the involvement of the Maoist.

So what’s the truth? The country needs to know the real perpetrators of this incident. Can we hope for an honest, quick and competent enquiry into this incident?

Friday, May 28, 2010

Support Naxals and Face Punishment says PC

Our dear HM has recently issued dire threats to civil society for "supporting" the Maoists. To him, anyone who even hints at the gross injustice, years of exploitation and complete abdication of its duty by the state in the tribals areas as being the underlying cause for the growth of the Maoist movement is a supporter of the Naxals. The Times of India wrote recently (7th May 2010 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Support-Naxals-face-punishment/articleshow/5900678.cms)

"NEW DELHI: Toughening its stance against Naxalites, the Centre on Thursday warned Maoist sympathizers — including members of civil society and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) — found supporting the ultras by propagating their ideology or by any other means to be ready to face severe punishment. "

Of course, this is utter nonsense. If one reads what the Home Affairs Ministry has to say, one would think that the civil society is more of a threat than the Maoists themselves.

Wonder what PC would say to those who said this:

"... the Naxalite movement has to be recognised as a political movement with a strong base among the landless and poor peasantry and adivasis. ....Though its professed long term ideology is capturing state power by force, in its day to day manifestation it is to be looked upon as basically a fight for social justice, equality, protection and local development. The two have to be seen together without overplaying the former..."

Would he arrest them under the UAPA?

It is a quote from the report of the Expert Committee set up by the Planning Commission of India on Development Challenges in Extremist Affected Areas, published by the Government of India in April 2008.