Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis.
Credit: Reuters Photo
Mumbai: Days after the Jan Suraksha Bill was passed by the Maharashtra legislature, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday claimed that urban Naxals from outside the state were using foreign funds to spread rumours and keep the people of Gadchiroli district away from the path of development.
According to investigation by the Gadchiroli Police, four such people were identified - two from Kolkata and two from Bengalaru.
“At time when the number of gun-wielding Naxalites is shrinking, urban Naxalism is on the rise, hence, we need to be alert about urban Naxals, who are spreading false information,” said Fadnavis, who is also the state’s Home Minister and Law & Judiciary Minister said at the groundbreaking ceremony of several projects of Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd (LMEL) at Konsari in Gadchiroli district.
About the Gadchiroli district and appealing Maoist cadres to join the mainstream, the CM said, “Naxalism is shrinking in Gadchiroli, and very few Naxalites, who can be counted on fingers, are left in the forests here…. even former Naxals are working here.… the Naxal network has been broken, only a few remain, and they too must surrender,” he appealed.
Fadnavis, who is also the guardian minister of Gadchiroli district, informed that urban naxals through misinformation are trying to derail development projects.
“When Gadchiroli started progressing and the foundation of a steel plant was laid here, the very next day a campaign and posts started on social media claiming tribals were being killed and the steel plant was getting constructed on their lands. The campaigns also claimed forests were being cut on a large scale,” the Chief Minister said.
Fadnavis said that he was taken aback and asked Gadchiroli Range’s Inspector General Sandeep Patil to gather details.
“You will be surprised to know that these people were not from Maharashtra. Two people were sitting in Kolkata, while two were sitting in Bengaluru and they had been working on foreign funding. They were using these funds to instigate people against the Constitution, through such posts on social media platforms,” he said.
It may be mentioned, during the monsoon session of the legislature, the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill - popularly known as Jan Suraksha Bill - was passed without any opposition.
The Bill, however, does not use the word “urban Naxal”, specifically.
The Bill is aimed to provide - “more effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of Left Wing Extremist organisation or similar organisations and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto”.