Joint operations may end Maoist depredations: Experts
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has convened a meeting of four Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa in Kolkata on February 9, 2010, to chalk out a joint operation strategy to counter Maoist depredations.
BETTER LATE than never. At long last good sense prevailed upon Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and he convened a meeting of the chief ministers of the four Eastern states to chalk out a joint operation strategy to counter Maoist depredations in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa and Bihar.
Chidambaram has convened the meeting of the four Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa in Kolkata on February 9, 2010. The meeting is expected to discuss the modalities of joint operations with deployment of more Central para-military forces to effectively counter the ultra red rebels.
The West Bengal government, which has been demanding for joint operations by the neighbouring states and deployment of more Central para-military forces, has welcomed the Union Home Minister’s decision to convene the meeting.
Critics, however, said Chidambaram was forced to convene the meeting following the appointment of former National Security Advisor M K Narayanan as the Governor of West Bengal.
“The reality is that the Maoists can’t be effectively countered or flushed out without joint operations by the neighbouring states and deployment of more para-military forces. The new West Bengal governor, who is aware of the developments, may naturally recommend joint coordinated actions against the red terrorists to the President, embarrassing the Union Home Minister and his ministry,” they said.
Experts feel that the joint operations by the security forces may put in a tight corner the Maoists, who are active in 220 districts in 20 states of the country. More than 3000 people, including security men, civil officers and political activists, have been killed by the Maoists in the past few years.
“Once the joint operations are initiated the Maoists are bound to be on their guard and look for fresh hideouts. Therefore, such operations should continue till the surrender by the majority of the Maoist leaders and members of the arm squads,” they pointed out. “Such operation may also force the Maoists to sit for a dialogue with the government surrendering their arms,” they added.
Maoists continue their depredations in several opposition ruled states, including West Bengal, killing civilians and policemen because of the lack of coordinated operations as announced time to time by the Union Home Ministry. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh repeatedly asserted that the Maoists are the single largest threat to the country's internal security but Home Minister P Chidambaram talked of several tough actions against the red terrorists and didn’t make any effort to implement those actions. All his proposed actions remained confined to statements only. This attitude of Chidambaram gave serious credence to the allegations that his ministry was reluctant to take action because the Maoists remained active mostly in opposition ruled states.
The West Bengal government, which has been demanding for joint operations by the neighbouring states and deployment of more Central para-military forces, has welcomed the Union Home Minister’s decision to convene the meeting.
Critics, however, said Chidambaram was forced to convene the meeting following the appointment of former National Security Advisor M K Narayanan as the Governor of West Bengal.
“The reality is that the Maoists can’t be effectively countered or flushed out without joint operations by the neighbouring states and deployment of more para-military forces. The new West Bengal governor, who is aware of the developments, may naturally recommend joint coordinated actions against the red terrorists to the President, embarrassing the Union Home Minister and his ministry,” they said.
Experts feel that the joint operations by the security forces may put in a tight corner the Maoists, who are active in 220 districts in 20 states of the country. More than 3000 people, including security men, civil officers and political activists, have been killed by the Maoists in the past few years.
“Once the joint operations are initiated the Maoists are bound to be on their guard and look for fresh hideouts. Therefore, such operations should continue till the surrender by the majority of the Maoist leaders and members of the arm squads,” they pointed out. “Such operation may also force the Maoists to sit for a dialogue with the government surrendering their arms,” they added.
Maoists continue their depredations in several opposition ruled states, including West Bengal, killing civilians and policemen because of the lack of coordinated operations as announced time to time by the Union Home Ministry. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh repeatedly asserted that the Maoists are the single largest threat to the country's internal security but Home Minister P Chidambaram talked of several tough actions against the red terrorists and didn’t make any effort to implement those actions. All his proposed actions remained confined to statements only. This attitude of Chidambaram gave serious credence to the allegations that his ministry was reluctant to take action because the Maoists remained active mostly in opposition ruled states.
Emboldened by the inaction, the Maoists called the shots and even rejected the offer for talks without surrendering the arms. They didn’t even hesitate to call Chidambaram a ‘liar’.
The Union Home Minister announced joint operations against the Maoists under the supervision of senior military officers. But nothing happened. He continued to defer the joint actions. Then he invited the Maoists for talks and said they must surrender arms. He renewed his invitation saying that Maoists would have to abjure violence and require surrendering their arms.
Critics, however, say he is reluctant to take action against the Maoists as they are active mostly in opposition ruled states. He preferred to pass the buck to the respective state governments under the pretext that law and order is a state subject.
“Despite knowing this fact, he announced joint operations by the security forces in Chhatishgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal. But nothing happened and the Maoists continued with their depredations, killing civilians and security personnel and blowing up school buildings, government property, including railway stations and tracks and telephone towers,” they pointed out.
In Andhra Pradesh, they said, the Maoists helped the Congress to oust the Naidu government. “And in West Bengal the Maoists are actively helping the Trinamool Congress, a partner of the Congress in the United Progressive Alliance and killing mostly Communist Party of India (Marxist) activists,” they said.
The ruling Left Front has been demanding joint operations by the security forces of Jharkhnad, Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal for a long time. “Once the Union Home Minister had promised to ensure joint operations but nothing happened. Probably the Home Ministry preferred to remain silent spectators as the Maoists are helping the Trinamool Congress, the largest partner of the congress in the UPA and annihilating the local level CPI (M) leaders and activists,” a spokesperson of the front said.
“The Trina-Maos are bent on creating anarchy in the state for narrow political gains but the efforts will definitely retard the growth of the state by several decades,” he alleged.
Nearly 300 party activists have been killed by the 'Trina-Maos' since the last parliamentary election in the state, he claimed.
On the other hand, Trinamool Congress remained adamant in demanding the withdrawal of the Central forces from the Jangalmahal, where the Maoists had been carrying their depredations for quite some time. The party even denied the existence of Maoists in the three Western districts of West Bengal.
But with the Maoists targeting the railways in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress supreme and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee offered to broker peace dialogue with the red rebels. The Maoists leaders have reportedly turn down her offer.
On the other hand, Trinamool Congress remained adamant in demanding the withdrawal of the Central forces from the Jangalmahal, where the Maoists had been carrying their depredations for quite some time. The party even denied the existence of Maoists in the three Western districts of West Bengal.
But with the Maoists targeting the railways in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress supreme and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee offered to broker peace dialogue with the red rebels. The Maoists leaders have reportedly turn down her offer.
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