The document discusses the Naxalite movement in India. It provides background on the origins of Naxalism in 1967 and describes the movement's goals of establishing a classless society and dismantling the current political system. It outlines some of the major Naxalite attacks in 2010 and lists the demands of the Naxalites, which include releasing political prisoners and recognizing tribal land rights. The document also summarizes the Indian government and Congress party's perspectives on addressing Naxalism through negotiations while tackling root causes of deprivation.
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2. Introduction
There are three main sources of internal conflict in
India and one of the sources of internal violence in
India comes from incidents brought to effect by left
wing Extremist groups movements in many states of
India. This has been identified by Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh as the single biggest security
challenge to the India. The origin of these violent
movements is often credited to a 1967 peasant
uprising in West Bengal, when peasants attacked the
local landlords in the village of Naxalbari. The left-
wing extremist movements are popularly known
Naxalite movements and the people involved in them
are called Naxalites. (Iyer, K. 2009)
3. What is Naxalism.
Naxalism is the most significant political movement since independence
(1947).
It has been the most long-lasting though it has had its ups and downs.
Despite its fragmented nature a continuing thread with some variations can
be seen in the ideological thrust, strategy and tactics of mobilization of
different groups within its fold.
It is the only movement which having started in one police station of a
single district in West Bengal in 1967 has expanded its activities covering
over 460 police stations in 160 districts across 14 states despite the police
force and infrastructure having grown manifold during this period.
The movements capacity to challenge the state has also enormously
increased considering the incidents of violence and casualties resulting
from them.
The movement is viewed with greater anxiety in the government because it
is most intense precisely in areas which are rich in natural resources
and, therefore, targeted for fast-track industrial development.
(Iyer, K. 2009)
4. History
The government responded with a heavy use of
force, and the movement splintered into many
different extremist groups in the 1970s.
In 1980, the formation of the Peoples War
Group (PWG) in Andhra Pradesh marked the
renewal of left-wing violent movements.
The leading extremist group is the Communist
Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), formed by
the merger of the Peoples War Group with the
Maoist Communist Center (MCC) in 2004.
They were most distructive in the year 2010.
(Govt at war with Naxals to aid
MNCs:Arundhati,2011.)
5. Major Naxalite Attacks in 2010
On 15th Feb. 2010, Naxalite attacked on a paramilitary camp in
West Bengal, killed 24 paramilitary personnel, with many more
reported missing.
On 18th Feb. 2010, At least 12 villagers were killed and 12 injured
in indiscriminate firing by the Maoists in Jamui district of Bihar.
25 village houses were also burned down.
On 4th April 2010, 11 policemen were killed and ten wounded
when rebels blew up a police bus in Orissa's Koraput district and
Naxalite rebels killed 75 Indian paramilitary personnel and 1
state police constable in a series of attacks on security convoys
in Dantewada district in the central Indian state of Chattisgarh.
On 17th May 2010, Naxalite killed 44 by bus bombing near Dante
wada.
On 28th may 2010, the naxalites derailed Gyaneshwari Express
killing more than 150.
On 29th june 2010 they attacked narayanpura killing 26.
(Vaidya, S. 2011)
6. What Naxalites want
According to naxals they represent deprived classes comprising of
poorest, tribals, dalit, landless workers.
At local level naxals fight rich land owners , at state level they target
police, IAS(Indian Administrative Services) , Politicians.
Naxals believe that India didnt get freedom in 1947, What they
consider as freedom or independence were mere transfer of power
from British to rich landowners , capitalist and their agents called
politicians.
Ultimate goal of naxalites is to dismantle current Indian System of
governance and establish what they call as true people government
and a class less society.
They are against present form of democracy and political system.
Naxals concept is right in principal. Tribals , dalits and deprived
form large part of Indian population and any development must be
not be just for making rich more richer but at same time uplifting
the deprived classes. (what do naxals want?, 2012)
7. Demands
The government should not prevent agitations, peaceful demonstrations and
meetings.
Lift the ban on the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) P.W. and
other organisations.
Release all political prisoners.
Scrap the system of giving acceleratory promotions and unofficial incentives
to police officers who kill naxalites in fake encounters and order a judicial
probe into all fake encounters and punish the police officers responsible.
Withdraw all World Bank projects and schemes supported by imperialists.
Stop the retrenchment of workers and the privatisation of public sector
enterprises (PSEs).
Withdraw user charges on drinking water, education and health services.
Scrap all agreements with the World Bank, MNCs and other countries.
Recognise the tribal people's rights on forest.
Lift all cases registered against workers of mass organisations and other
revolutionary parties.
8. Demands cont.
Waive all private loans taken by the farming community to stop suicides
by farmers.
Initiate steps to develop and support tribal languages.
Form a separate Telangana State.
Prepare a permanent and integrated plan for tackling the drought
situation.
Provide job reservation for Dalits in the private sector.
Equal property rights for women.
Reservation for women in the private sector.
Stringent punishment for those who commit atrocities on women.
Order a probe into the illegal amassing of wealth by officials, politicians
and capitalists; corruption scandals by officials and politicians.
Recover money from the affluent who evade taxes.
Complete all pending irrigation projects. Farmers should be given
irrigation facilities and supplied adequate power.
(what do naxals want?, 2012)
9. Indian governments say
The naxal issue in Central and Eastern Indian has become a major
obstacle to development. While it is argued by many that deprivation
and displacement of tribals breed violence, if requires no argument that
fear and insecurity retard development. The Prime Minister said, The
Naxal Problem is the greatest concern now. It is also true that it is
proving to a major contradiction in our democracy which is appreciated
across the world for its tenacity and elasticity. The Naxals have to be
brought to the ballot from the bullet, so that their grievances are
resolved in a negotiated way. But how to do this not clear, It requires
political sagacity and negotiating ingenuity to resolve the conflict.
A negotiation is urgently needed. What have been the negotiating
positions so far? The state says, you stop violence, and we talk, the
Naxals say, you solve problems or we use more violence. Both these
positions put the cart before the horse; these positions should actually
be the outcomes of a negotiated resolution of the conflict, without
preconditions. But, for sure, there have to be some guiding principles
for resolving a conflict through negotiations. (Prasad, 2010).
10. Congresss Say
The debate in Congress over the right approach to
deal with Naxalism, party president Sonia Gandhi
has issued the final word. "While we must address
acts of terror decisively, we have to address the
root causes of Naxalism. The rise of Naxalism is a
reflection of the need for our development
initiatives to reach the grassroots, especially in our
backward tribal districts," Sonia Gandhi said in
the latest issue of party journal Congress Sandesh.
(Address root causes of Naxalism: Sonia, 2011)
11. Negotiations
A special force was appointed to deal with the
Naxal terrorist activities.
A group of leaders from crongress is working
on the fulfilment of the demands.
Tribal welfare authority is placed to work on
the welfare of the backward tribal population
in central and eastern india.
An enquiry is seated up on the fake
encouters.
(Giri,D. 2012)
12. Recommendations
One needs to go back to the first principles; what is the real issue?
What is the heart of the matter? What should be a framework for
principle, as the basis of negotiation? The framework is peace, and a
win-win situation. The framework will be the reference point, the
guiding path. What would make the naxalites accept peace as a
framework before they come to the negotiating table, so that the
peace becomes permanent?
The negotiation has to be relentless till a solution is found, not
intermittent.
A conducive climate needs to be built for talks by addressing the
small issues.
The Government and the naxalites need third party assistance. This
third party has to be anyone committed and capable, and should
have confidence of both.
It is important to realize that resolving a conflict is a journey, a
process not an event, a one-time achievement. We need to leave the
past behind, give up stereotype images that nexals are terrorists, or
the Government is ruthless, exploitative and brutal.
13. Refrences
Iyer, l. (2009). The Bloody Millennium: Internal Conflict in South Asia (Harvard Business
School).Retrieved from
http://www.hbs.edu/research/pdf/09-086.pdf
Giri, D. (2012). Negotiating with the Naxals. Retrieved from
http://www.livenewsbee.com/negotiating-naxals/
What do naxals want?. (2012). Retrieved from
http://indiansawaal.com/what-do-naxals-want/
Address root causes of Naxalism: Sonia. (2011). Retrieved from
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/address-root-causes-of-naxalism-sonia-25645
Prasad, P. (2009). In anti-Naxal war, beware turning state into a destructive power.
Retrieved from
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-13/all-that-
matters/31690411_1_naxalites-maoists-greyhounds
Govt at war with Naxals to aid MNCs:Arundhati. (2011). Retrieved from
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/govt-at-war-with-naxals-to-aid-mncs-arundhati/103627-3.html
Vaidya, S. (2011). Resource: Naxal war. Retrieved from
http://naxaliterage.com/?p=290