In today's op-ed Shekhar Gupta, expresses displeasure at UPA tepid response to growing menance of Naxalism.
Since this government came to power, Maoists in various parts of India are becoming more and more adacious.
In A.P., they were apparently encouraged by Congress to undermine Naidu during assembly elections, as a quid-pro-quo YSR Reddy lifted ban on them and invited them for negotiations.
As happens elsewhere, they took advantage of cease fire to regroup (and to re-establish contact with other Maoists group), rearm and recruit volunteers.
Once they had achieved their objectives, they cocked a snook at the negotiations and resumed violence, attacking state apparatus, in order to maintain their stranglehold in rural A.P.
In Bihar, Naxalites have used the prevalent social oppression and lawlessness to hold sway over a large part of central Bihar.
Same can be said for Chattisgarh and Jharkhand.
Alarmingly, there are reports of Naxalites presence in Karnataka, and even in my Home state U.P.
What is more, there is a fear of Naxalites establishing a "corridor of influence" from Nepal to A.P. and Karnataka.
The responses to this menance has been varied, while in AP villagers are figthing back against Naxalites, the government is confused.
Bihar is without arguement, the worst case, I have a fear that if this trend continues Bihar will plunge in full -fledged civil war in coming years. All the political parties support either Naxalites or Upper -caste armies, so willingness of local politician to tackle this problem is doubtful.
Jharkhand and Chattisgarh have shown more willing ness in fighting Naxalites with government actively arming the communties to fight, however, considering BJP, which is the P - in- P in those states, has not come up with coherent strategy.BJP ofcourse being in throes of power struggle has more important concerns than being a responsible opposition.
Now having said all this, my point is, we can not expect much from Congress because,
1) Despite having few sensible leaders like Pranab Mukharjee, congress is by and large hosatge to "secular fundamentalists", and "Nehruvian stalinists", now these category of gentlemen (and ladies) prefer to bury their head in sands of myth of pacifism and victimhood and deny reality . The denial is ofcourse because it contradicts their theories(delusions ? ) about utopian and egalitarian society, so instead of facing the situation as it is they dabble in root causes and moral equivalance.
2) Sonia Gandhi is not the brightest bulb in house (to put it mildly), Manmohan Singh is pragmatic, but I doubt he has ears of Madam. In fact, Sonia Gandhi has all the reasons to be suspicious of him emerging as parallel power of center.
Further, I doubt that doctor has any experience in internal security and most likely he will go with the crowd.
3) I have a strong belief that Sonia Gandhi is modeling herself as Indira Gandhi (no doubt encouraged by her darbaris), this will mean, that internal policy will be dictated more by ideology than facts.
This will mean ofcourse that the government will fall back to root causes , misguided youths, marginalised people etc etc.
4) In my opinion Congress represent all that is wrong with middle class (indifference,ignorance, apathy, glibness). We (of middle class), do not bother, unless the barbarians are at the gates and then act shocked and self righteous. It is for us (in middle classes) to understand that while self flagellation and lamentation might make for evoking verses, it do not make good policy.
Policy is made by logical thinking and correct judgement of facts.
What is surprising (or not ?) is that Mr. Gupta, who is on the mark when it comes to other issues, becomes sympathetic (counseling ?) when it comes to discussing inherent incompetency of Big tent party.
