Naxal activism and related violence has been recurring with increasing frequency lately and has been a cause of concern not only for the country’s integrity and security, but also for its general well-being. While Nepal is witnessing reconciliation with the Naxals, as reflected in the latter’s participation in the government, India continues to be a victim of their gory ways.

Naxal violence 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.

Their objective is to establish a “Compact Revolutionary Zone” — 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. The Naxals aim to use this corridor, reportedly, for eventual seizure of power — leading to the establishment of the Maoist State.

Organisation
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 killing of Sunil Mahato, the JMM MP or the recent attack on a police camp in Bastar, killing about 56 policemen, Naxals have been evincing greater precision, penetration, organisation and audacity in striking their chosen targets at will.

Transforming themselves into a modern guerrilla force, Naxals, are equipped with sophisticated weapons and communication systems. With the formation of an united outfit called CPI(Maoist), along with the raising of an armed wing: ie People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army, through the merger of Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) and People’s War Group (PWG), the Naxal movement has succeeded in getting over the problem of sanguinary infighting amongst them. The movement has also witnessed a shift in focus and strategy. Today, they are not only logistically better organised and trained; they are also motivated and 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. They believe that the benefits of the Panchayat 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.

Focus on power
The new strategy is the seizure of 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. 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 self-determination, including the right to secession.

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. If the Naxals still feel the other way round, they should come forward to discuss the same across the table.
Already, the government has been responding to their allegations of inequitable and inegalitarian development and has come forward with a slew of development proposals to address the said inequity.

By indulging in brazen and unprincipled acts of violence, the Naxals are hurting the developmental cause of their own nation, thereby playing in the hands of our enemies. The government can make efforts to bring them aboard, while continuing its developmental efforts, without compromising with the country’s security and integrity.

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.

(The writer is additional district magistrate, Hooghly)