Naxalism and Government Action

The situation has turned extremely grim after the killing of over 80 security forces by Maoists. While families of those killed wail and mourn, politicians are engaged in accusations of each other. Various questions being raised over the government strategy to tackle Maoists are becoming the subject of controversy.

In this context, federal Home Minister P. Chidambaram offer to quit followed by the rejection of his resignation can be termed part of this controversy. In certain quarters, it is being dubbed as a mere drama whereas some believe it to be a move emerging out of his helplessness.

Lack of Clarity and Firmness
Amid all this, it has come to the fore that there is an utter lack of clarity and firmness among the federal and state governments on the approach of dealing with the problem. Some governments of states where Maoists are active are being accused of lacking the necessary potential to counter the menace effectively. Recently, when Chidambaram visited Lalgarh, the stronghold of Maoists in West Bengal, there took place a lot of bitterness between him and West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya. An impression had gone around that no joint strategy was being formed by the federal and governments of Maoist-hit states.

The federal government would extend support to governments of Maoist-hit states, so that the regions affected by Maoist violence could be liberated from the clutches of these militant elements. Under the fresh joint strategy, the second step would be to address social and economic issues pertaining to the people inhabiting such areas, so that the administration machinery could be made effective in Naxal-affected (Maoist insurgency) areas of the states concerned. This will include construction of schools, health centers, roads, and provision of potable water. It clearly manifests that there still exist a large number of places where people are deprived of basic amenities of life.

In our view, the federal government has failed on this front because it could not succeed in creating influence in the Maoist-hit areas so far. The federal government ministers often issue statements on this issue at all levels, yet no impact has emerged. It seems the lack of cooperation among the defense forces, state governments, and the federal government is aired from time to time, yet nothing has come to the fore to this effect over the recent past.

Big Challenge Ahead
Maoists, meanwhile, have achieved a major success in enhancing their influence in major swathes of the country. In the circumstances, there is no scope for issuing clarifications and indulging in rhetoric, now. Instead, in the wake of the big challenge posed by Maoists in Dantewada, there is the need to show such performance as should succeed in overcoming the existing worrisome situation.

For, eventually action will prove results. Hence, the people of the country would feel satisfied only when positive impact will come to the fore through an effective anti-Maoist campaign.

Police Reforms

India's internal problems are increasing due to extremism and Naxalism (Maoist insurgency). It has also to contend with the threat of infiltration. To confound matters, police officers are unable to function freely due to political pressure.

The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P. Chidambaram both drew attention to these problems at a conference of directors general and inspectors general of police.

The police are clearly facing challenges from all sides. It is necessary to make the police efficient and perceptive. This cannot be possible without joint effort of the Union and State Governments. But law and order being a state subject, they are unwilling to brook any interference by the central authorities in their right. They fail to realize that when the situation gets out of control, it is the Union Government that has ultimately to bear the responsibility. State and federal governments do not obviously see eye-to-eye on the internal security problem. This in turn is giving opportunity to criminals and anarchical forces to thrive.

Undeniable Fact
This difference between the two sets of government was quite evident during the Ishrat Jahan case in Gujarat, and in the Lalgarh issue of West Bengal. It is this situation that had impelled the Home Minister to advise police chiefs to object to frequent transfers of their officers. It is an undeniable fact that State Governments transfer police officers on the pretext of their inefficiency or of meeting needs of time.

Yet, if an officer of Uttar Pradesh is transferred within four months, it is certainly not due to his ineptitude. It smells of corruption, bias, and favoritism. The Home Minister's statement that state governments spend only the leftover of their budgets on police is quite significant. How can the state police force function efficiently in such a situation?

Assigning More Responsibilities
The Prime Minister went a step further than the home minister to assign more responsibilities to the police. He expects the force to keep an eye on internal and external activities that might affect the country's security.

The Prime Minister also urged them to understand the real causes of incidents that are drawing more and more youth to extremism. In other words, he wants the police to become an efficient and autonomous wing of the democratic structure and to have greater involvement. His statement clearly recommends reforms in the police system.