Linkages Between Development and Spread of Extremism – Naxalism ( Left Wing Extremism) LEFT WING EXTREMISM Table of Content Introduction Evolution of Indian Left Wing Naxalbari Incident Current Situation Stated Purpose of Movement Maoist Strategy Recruitments by Maoists Front Organizations and Urban Presence Where is fault of the government? Counter operations by governments 1. Grey Hound police 2. Operation Green Hunt 3. Salwa Judum 4. Peace Talks with Maoist 5. Surrender Policy Conclusion www.pragnyaias.com 7288081111 Improvement in standard of living is something that everyone craves for and deserves it too. It involves, apart from decent food clothing and shelter, quality education and health and also dignified living. It is the absence of these things that incited masses against colonial government. Independence of India brought with it huge popular expectations for upliftment from poverty, from new democratic government. Our leaders were wisely dedicated to democratic principles for redistribution of resources. Unfortunately, democratic processes are too slow to observe any tangible results soon. Under this it is to be ensured that, in order to deliver justice to downtrodden people, injustice is not done even with privileged ones. This requires every action to be taken transparently and every effected person be given reasonable opportunity of being heard and also right to recourse to courts. Land reforms were major plank through which the Congress brought rural masses under its fold. But after independence, this subject went under state’s domain. Politics of every state differed and it was driving force for extent and direction of land reforms. States which failed to deliver much www.pragnyaias.com 7288081111 at this front were to bear the brunt of left-wing movement in coming times. Further, from very beginning focus was on development of big industries in backward areas. This development included operation of mines, building of big dams, steel plants, fertilizer plants etc away from urban centres, yet these continued to feed needs of urban India exclusively. So, tribals and farmers were losers in this arrangement as they were frequently displaced. According to an estimate, since independence, about 3-4 crore tribals have been displaced due to various hydro projects. Apart from this, Indian state repeatedly failed to deliver its services such as maintaining law and order, social infrastructure, relief during epidemics or disasters in the remote areas. These made people indifferent to the democratic principles and some of them even got averse to the state when they were indoctrinated. These places were breeding ground of Naxalism where they established there bases. Malkangiri district is one of 250 most backward districts of the country. In 1977 a dam was built here which resulted in physically isolating more than 160 villages. This district lies on Orissa- Andhra border. These isolated villages are in Orissa, but are accessible only from Andhra Pradesh side. Since then, these areas are practically operating without Indian administration. Consequently, this has become base and a sanctuary for Naxalites. Government’s efforts for preservation of forests and wildlife have also led to some sort of resentment in tribals. Some of their areas came under wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. This made our government appear to be working for animals at cost of tribals. Evolution of Indian Left wing Communist Party of India (CPI) was formed in 1920’s under the aegis of MN Roy in Tashkent. At the same time there was wave of Socialism blowing in India motivated from Russian revolution and vagaries of Economic Depression. Colonial government was quite nervous and it frequently cracked any plans of socialist minded people conspiring against it. 1st such crackdown was Peshawar Conspiracy Case, then came Kanpur conspiracy case in 1924, and later Meerut Conspiracy Case in 1929. With all this, people only got more attracted to and aware of www.pragnyaias.com 7288081111 socialist ideas. Meanwhile, numerous small and regional organizations came under mainstream Communist Party of India in 1925. After, 1929 broke away from mainstream politics which was led by congress and took its own course. This was due to decision taken at Congress of Communist International, which branded congress as party of Bourgeoisie, which is colluding with imperialists to further its own ends. Later they opposed Quit India Movement because Britain was with Russia against Germany in World War. Extremist Left wing movement was present at time of Independence mainly in Hyderabad and Patiala princely state. Communists affiliated by CPI, here came to rescue oppressed peasants from Jagirdars and biswedars. In Hyderabad they fought against Islamic militia, the Razakars. When Indian army liberated Hyderabad in 1948, communists who were deeply influenced by Russian Revolution, decided to continue their struggle against bourgeois Indian government. They were soon pursued by Indian forces and by 1951, movement’s back was broken. Similarly in Punjab, a small band of militia was formed to protect farmer from oppressive biswedars and soon it got eradicated. After brutal repression by state CPI gave up armed struggle and joined democratic politics. In 1957, it emerged largest opposition party and in same year it came to power in Kerala and EMS Namboodiripad became chief minister. It was 1st democratic government under a communist party all over world. In 1962 when Indo-China war broke out majority of CPI leaders viewed it as struggle of a socialist country against Capitalist India. Consequently, they supported China’s cause, due to which Govt. put many leaders in jail. Further, there was growing dissent in party for party’s diversion toward democratic state which was contrary to Communist principle of armed struggle to overthrow the state. It was felt by some leaders that they are getting absorbed into present system. This finally culminated into split in the party in 1964 which resulted in new party called Communist Party of India (Marxist). Dissent and differences didn’t settle in new party, CPI (M) and it fought elections in West Bengal and came in power by forming coalition ‘United Front’. This ridiculed many party members and among them were Charu Mazumdar, Kanu Sanyal and Jangal Santhal. www.pragnyaias.com 7288081111 Naxalbari Incident Naxalbari, a village near Siliguri North West Bengal, became infamous in 1967 as it revived left wing extremism in India. Charu Mazumdar was active leader of the area and was mobilizing peasants against state for an armed conflict. On the other hand there were repetitive incidences of Class conflicts between peasants and zamindars. One such conflict escalated and zamindar was expelled from his land. After these police came to his rescue and was surrounded by about thousand peasants armed with bows, arrows, lathis etc. One Police officer was killed. Police force few days after responded with brutal force and 9 women and 2 children were killed. This was sanctioned by united front government of whom CPI was part. In response revolutionary leaders fled the area and declared armed struggle against state of India. They formed a new party Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) in 1969 and this was motivated and influenced deeply by Communist Party of China. In fact, Charu Mazumdar wrote 8 documents which was sort of road map for his group. He sent these documents to China to be approved by Mao Zedong. This incident fired the imagination of Bengali Youth and there was popular support for Charu. Many university students joined the organization and became part of its different forms of front organizations, which they use for propaganda. In 1972, Charu was caught and he died under custody. After this, movement went underground. Heavy state response kept violent incidents under control in 1970’s but it got push in 1980’s. This time it was from Andhra Pradesh. Actually, in 1967 itself movement also started in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. Here revolutionaries tried to mobilize tribals into armed militias called ‘dalams’, by inciting them against landlords, money lenders and government. They resorted to ‘annihilation of class enemy’ under which people those represented state i.e. government servants, Forest officials and other oppressive characters such as money lenders and landlords, were to be identified and killed. They killed about 100 such targets and this was followed by arrest of its main leaders which brought movement to standstill. In late 1970’s Kanu Sanyal was released and in 1980 K. Seetharamaiah founded People’s War Group. Original CPI (ML) by this time has changed name to Maoist Communist Center. It was seen that in 1990’s www.pragnyaias.com 7288081111 popular support to Maoist movement waned in backward districts. This coupled with disintegration of USSR and diversion towards market economy by China was a big blow to ambitions of Indian left wing. These two parties/groups merged in 2004. With this, they gave a statement about their aim. It states that the Communist Party of India— CPI (M) is representative of the Indian proletariat (working class/labor) and its ideological foundation is Marxism-Leninism-Maoism. Its political objective is overthrow of what it calls the semi-colonial, semi-feudal system under neo-colonial form of indirect rule, exploitation and control in India of the oppressed masses. This struggle will be carried out through armed agrarian revolutionary war i.e. the Protracted People’s War with area wise seizure of power. This is old Maoist principle under which base is made in rural areas and more and more people are gradually brought into its fold. Overtime, influence will be extended to urban areas. Current Situation Naxalism has spread to 17 states in India, including Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal to name the few main ones, affecting nearly 185 out of 602 districts. With established base areas in Dantewada and Bastar districts of Chhattisgarh, the movement has shown no signs of abating there.