Jharkhand Chief Minister Brings Maoists To Dialogue Table

Finally, Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren's political acumen and Home Minister P. Chidambaram's determination have started showing results. Positive tidings have come from Maoists, who have been fighting a bitter battle for a long time. They are now willing to hold talks with preconditions.
When Soren was sworn in as chief minister on 30 December 2009 for the third time, he appealed to Maoists to give up violence and have discussions, instead. The home minister had also adopted tough measures to control Maoists. At the same time, he had always emphasized the need to pay attention to the human side of the issue.

Mainstream of Democracy
As a result of these efforts, Maoists have offered to join the mainstream of democracy. This suggestion, which raises hopes, has come before Shibu Soren's meeting with P. Chidambaram to be held on 9 February. This has made Soren's role all the more important. The most important condition laid down by Naxalites (Maoist guerillas) is removal of the ban imposed on them. They have also demanded release of their associates, payment of compensation to the innocent and oppressed, end of police atrocities and false encounters, and removal of paramilitary forces from villages.
According to them the previous government had acted arbitrarily in giving land to Jindal Steel, Arcelor Mittal, and Tata Steel. Tribals were cheated in the process of requisition of land. These deals must, therefore, be reexamined. At a first glance, this demand does not seem to be unjustified. Jharkhand is endowed with extremely fertile land, enormous natural resources, and minerals.

Strengthening Roots of Naxalism
Yet, the state has been beset with tremendous poverty, unemployment, hunger, corruption, and looting of tribal lands. These problems have helped in strengthening the roots of Naxalism here. In such a situation, the government has to take all these factors into account during talks.
Who, after all, would not like this state, which had been deprived so long because of its bitter struggle with Naxalism, to develop and basic facilities to be made available to people?

Development Projects
Joint action initiated by the central government in Naxal-influenced areas has so far proved to be successful. Chidambaram has also clearly stated that the purpose of this program was not to kill people or cause unnecessary violence but to accelerate the sped of development projects.
Therefore, Soren is faced with the challenge of dispelling tribals' doubts and removing separatism. It would be interesting to watch the steps he takes in these directions. If the can carry this historical process of dialogue further, he will truly succeed in steering a backward state like Jharkhand to a new road.