Naxalism--The Threat Within

This post comes just hours after a brutal naxal attack slaughtered more than 70 Indian citizens.Yes I say citizens as they were first Indian citizens and later CRPF men.Their fault????Well they were just trying to safeguard the Indian Union from the Maoists and make sure we watch this bit of news on live TV.

After a few hours our indignation will die down and we will go back to our daily work as usual without sparing a thought to those souls who died safeguarding our country ironically not from hostile foreigners but from our own people.

First lets see whats fuelling Naxalism? What started as a revolt in Naxalbari In West bengal around 50 years earlier has now become a menace which is a major worry for our very survival.Are naxal leaders really interested in welfare of people?If so why are they blasting away schools and setting fires to crops of farmers who fail to pay them the protection money? Naxalism is a very romantic thought.There are no dearth of intelligentsia who patronize the Naxals or are sympathizers.In the 70's my dad tells me it was cool in west Bengal to be a Naxal because it was about student movement.Doing something to challenge the ineffectual government and try to bring change.But my father had other idea's and ended up joining Air Force while many of his friends got imbroiled in the Naxalite movement.Many of them are now living in the mainstream with good government jobs with their kids studying in the best of schools.When I talked to them why did they joined the movement and why they left it?They say the very idea of taking on the state sounded very exciting.With no jobs to speak of it looked like the best job in the world.Also the notion of welfare state where evryone lives for each other with no rich no poor but only equals was a charm.The soviet union was at the peak of its power.And Bengalis being always rebels without a cause joined in.But after they joined in they realised its not what it seemed.It was all the same what they were trying to escape.A few leaders controlled everything and led lavish lifestyles.And they were not doing any welfare but to the contrary threatening the villagers to extract food and money and shelter.They were always on the run.Anyone who raised his voice against the leaders were promptly silenced or murdered. This is my inside perspective on Naxalism

Now comes the turn of the Government.First question why was naxalism never taken as a serious threat?
Secondly why the security forces committing excesses in the name of national security.The tribal women are being raped and the men are picked up randomly and some never return.Those who return promptly go and join the naxals for revenge.Its not about calling eye for an eye because those poor villagers and tribals are Indians too and they have some basic rights.Thirdly after 60 Years of Independence why hasn't the basic necessities haven't reached them allowing the naxals to corrupt their innocent minds with thoughts of "UTOPIA".The government is acting too late and too slowly to have any consequence.The poloiticians are still fighting whose responsibility it is to fight the naxals.Why can't all of them shut up clean up the mess they have created over the years?First clear up the naxal menace and then fast track the development of those affected areas.