Govt vs Maoists

Call it cynical. But there is one thing which I really do not subscribe the way the Central Government has been dealing with the Maoists, the ‘gravest internal threat’ of the country. If the April 6 attack by the Maoists on the Central Reserve Police Force where 76 personnel of it were murdered is anything to go by, it is now pertinent to firmly believe that it is the real danger; it is the real threat of the country, as asserted by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. As expected, the blame game starts, who is wrong, who is right from the top brasses of the Armed forces to those sitting on the arm-chair persons. However, those are the people in the field who suffer the most.

From the outset of Maoists movement in 1969, thousands of lives have been lost, thousands are maimed and thousands are homeless.

It is nowhere to compare with even the most militants’ affected states in the country.

The estimated 20,000 Maoist combatants operate across a "red corridor" of 220 districts stretching from the Nepal border to West Bengal and through central India into the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. In fact, India is fighting a war within.

Now, given the scenario and its brutality, I have a simple question – why can’t the government impose the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, 1958, to those Maoists affected areas.

Well, you may argue with my point, but if you agree it is the most effective weapon to deal with the insurgents or extremists, it could have been imposed long time back against Maoists. For, this controversial or say the most draconian Act in the Independent India has been used as a favourite tool by the Central government to dealing with militants in the states like Manipur, Nagaland, Assam and Jammu and Kashmir over the last five decades or so. Secondly, the people living in these militants’ affected areas and many rights groups have long been demanding to repeal the Act, which they say it aversely violates the fundamental rights and values of the human beings. But still the government is refusing to repeal the Act, saying that it is the only weapon if you want to deal with the militancy problems. Yes, I do agree to some extent that war is a war, there would be at least some casualties, and collateral damages, but at the end rule of the law has to be implemented.

So, given the state of affairs, the government must have imposed this draconian act long time back if it wants to finish off.

Unfortunately, the government is hapless, because they are our ‘brethren’.

How could you impose this act with our own people!?

This is real nature of the Government of India.