Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday criticised calls for talks with Naxals, saying such arguments ignore victims of Left Wing Extremism, as he reiterated the government’s hardline stance in the Lok Sabha.Replying to a debate on efforts to eliminate Naxalism, Shah said the Centre remains open to dialogue only with those who lay down arms. “Those writing articles are asking government to hold talks with Naxals but do not talk of victims of left-wing violence,” he said, adding, “Lay down your arms, and the government will ensure your rehabilitation… Those who choose violence will be met with a firm response.”Shah argued that Naxalism spread due to ideology rather than poverty. “The root cause of Naxalism is not the demand for development. It is an ideology–an ideology that Indira Ji embraced back in 1970 in order to win the presidential election. Naxalism has spread precisely because of this Leftist ideology,” he said.He also questioned the shift in tribal allegiance over time. “I don’t understand a thing… prior to the independence, the Tribals… would consider Birsa Munda, Tilka Majhi, Rani Durgawati, Murmu bandhu as their heroes… those Tribals started considering Mao as their hero by the time 1970 came, why this change happened?” he asked, adding that Left groups “tricked the innocent Tribals” and prevented development. “They wanted no education for them, put the schools, banks, dispensaries in flames… the development is now reaching doorsteps under PM Modi’s rule,” he said.Detailing the scale of the problem, Shah said a “Red Corridor” once spanned multiple states. “Twelve states… were affected. A complete ‘Red Corridor’ was formed, and the rule of law ended there. Twelve crore people lived in poverty for years… Thousands of young lives were lost,” he said.The union minister also asserted that Naxalism has been “almost eradicated” in Bastar and welfare measures are now reaching people. “A campaign was launched to establish a school in every single village… ration shops… PHCs and CHCs… Aadhaar cards… five kilograms of food grains,” he said, adding that the region had been deprived earlier because “the shadow of ‘Red Terror’ loomed.”He also cited figures to underline the government’s crackdown. “4,839 (Naxalites) have surrendered. 2,218 have been sent to jail. 706 who refused to surrender… were gunned down by the police in encounters,” he said.Shah reiterated that violence cannot be justified under any circumstances and blamed earlier political approaches for allowing the problem to grow, claiming that development is now reaching previously affected areas.
