Dialogue With Naxals

Home Minister P. Chidambaram has rejected the Naxal (Maoist guerillas) proposal for talks as pointless. Any possibility of a discussion between the sides seems to have thereby faded away. The government probably is in no mood to have talks with Naxals. This is true of the other side as well. Efforts made for talks so far have not been very serious on the whole.

Naxals were asked to give up violence only for 72 hours and to send a written proposal for talks. They placed the condition for a ceasefire, and gave a mobile number for discussing matters. This mobile number too was that of a kidnapped policeman. Is this the way to take steps for dialogue?

Government's Intention
Aspersions may be cast on the government's intention to hold talks with Naxals. But the attitude of Naxals is much more dubious. It suggests that they have the strength of constitutional authority. It has been proved by repeated attacks on police forces that Naxals are unwilling for discussions. They justified these heinous activities as "Operation Peace Hunt" in retaliation to the government's "Operation Green Hunt."

The killings of 24 policemen in West Bengal became part of "Operation Peace Hunt". It can be deduced from such barbaric deeds that Naxals are suffering from the same psychology as terrorists like the Taliban. At a time when Naxals are showing their stubbornness and prejudice, strangely enough a section of intelligentsia is pressuring the government for talks with them. Is this possible if the adversary is absolutely unwilling to come to the table?

If Naxal sympathizers really want a dialogue between both sides, they must shoulder the responsibility of convincing Naxals to show some seriousness and maturity. Since this appears to be a remote possibility, the government must make preparations to rein in Naxals who are becoming more daring and powerful. The federal government seems to be determined to overcome Naxal organizations. But the states affected by Naxalism have started showing their reluctance in this regard.

Wavering Attitude
Naxals are now targeting common men and police forces. Yet, instead of retaliating, the affected states are coming up with all kinds of excuses. Some of them are claiming to be trying to convince them, while others are dreaming of a change of heart among them.

There are certain states that are more concerned about their own interests. Meanwhile, Naxals are taking full advantage of the states' wavering attitude.

Having failed to win the cooperation of these states, the federal government has been unable to take any step, in spite of the best of its intention. Nor can much satisfaction be derived from the coordination reached between state police forces and the Central Reserve Police Force (CISF) after a lot of hard labor. It has also been decided that their joint forces will fight Naxals. Could this work not have been started years ago?