Overcoming the Hamletian dilemma, the Andhra Pradesh Government has, at last, clamped a ban on the activities of the Peoples War Group, a Naxalite outfit, which has been responsible for disturbed conditions in Rural Andhra Pradesh particularly in the Telangana region, bringing to a halt all developmental activities. Civil liberties groups, of trampling on the rights of the innocent people. A call for State wide bandh has been given for August 8, 1996, Judging by past experience, considerable public property will be destroyed and may be a few lives will be lost. It is necessary to ponder over the Naxalite movement in the country at this juncture to evaluate the action taken by the Government of A.P. and the response by interested parties.

Peoples War Group is said to work for the welfare of tribals and rural poor. Conceptual clarity is sine qua non for arriving at valid conclusions and viable policy options, while dealing with a complex socio-economic problem like Tribal/Rural Backwardness. One should avoid the temptation of equating the symptoms of the deep-rooted malady with the manifestation of parasitical infestation. The treatment for the malady and clearing of the parasitical infection are distinct and separate. It is worthwhile to ponder whether amelioration of the conditions of Tribal / Rural poor would cause the disappearance of Naxalism from political scene automatically, or conversely, assisting the growth of Naxalism would ensure the removal of Tribal/Rural poverty. The answer is in the negative as both are not interrelated.

Naxalism is a political ideology and it is not a socio-economic movement aimed at the betterment of Tirbal/Rural poor. The social and their geographical location provides a ‘classic situation’ for Naxalites to test out their ideological tactics of guerrilla warfare, Peoples War and Rural based Revolution. Assuming that the ‘Tribals’ lot improves, Naxals would simply shift their scene of operations to where ‘exploited classes’ exist and geographical conditions are conducive to guerrilla war.

Naxalism is a brand name for Communist ideology of Marxist-Leninist variety, which burst out on the Indian scene as a radical romantic, revolutionary political creed in the Spring of 1967. Debunking Parliamentary Democracy and swearing by the tenet that the political power flows through the barrel of the gun, openly swearing allegiance to Chairman Mao, a well thought out political strategy had a premature birth in West Bengal in the ideal conditions of chaos that prevailed after the fall of the unpopular Congress Ministry. Euphoric at their unexpected success, the United Front, in its policy statement of March 1, 1967, proclaimed support to all downtrodden people in their legitimate struggles to ameliorate their conditions. Police were asked not to interfere in ‘class actions’.

Marxist Leninists chose the Siliguri area for launching their revolution, not by accident. The area was close to Nepal, Bangladesh, Sikkim and Tibet was less than 100 miles away. Populated by over 1.25 lakh tribals in a compact area of about 250 sq.miles, the area was a classic case of exploitation by landlords, money-lenders, and simmering discontent. Tribals had risen in revolt in the past also in 1939 and 1959. Police were rendered ineffective by political directives and violence as a means of social and economic change was put into operation with gusto. The ‘Spring Thunder’ broke over India and the Communist Party of China hailed these developments as the ‘front paw of the revolution’.

As Naxalbari movement started showing signs of success and was being replicated in other parts of the country, even an indulgent West Bengal Government had to crack the whip to control the damage. But it was too late. Sporadic revolts broke out in violent form in many parts of the country. Exulting at the spread of the message of revolution, a Coordinating Committee and later a party was formed to synchronise and coordinate localised violent struggles into a Mass Movement, and Naxalism was accepted as the brand name for CPML with the basic ideology of:

1. Complete rejection of the ethics of Parliamentary Democracy,
2. Emphasis on uncompromising class war,
3. That political power can be won only through violence - ‘political power flows through the barrel of the gun’, and
4. Harass, weaken and vanquish the enemy (here the established authority), thereby create ‘liberated areas’ as an inspiring prelude to the people’s war of liberation.

Four point plan of action for guerrilla struggle consisting of:

1. Setting up liberated zones,
2. Building up Peoples Army from the core of Guerrillas,
3. Encircling the cities from country side, and
4. ‘Kill one and frighten thousands’ - the theory of annihilation of class enemies.

The real aim of Naxalites is neither the domain of economics nor social welfare. it is a political movement having its goal as the seizure of political power i.e., State power. Agrarian uprisings with the help of landless peasants and poor tribal using guerrilla warfare tactics have their ultimate aim in capturing state power and then establishing a totalitarian regime. Charu Mazumdar summed up nicely the aim:

The basic doctrines of guerrilla warfare avoid the strength of the enemy and strike at his weak points; hide and seek the enemy; appear as good Samaritan to the poor masses by robbing Paul to pay the poor Peter; gain credibility by executing hated enemies of the poor etc., are fully practiced by the Naxals.

It is a figment of imagination to describe Naxalism as a label for downtrodden agrarian and tribal poor. Equally so to describe the tribals living in the contiguous forest areas of Orissa, A.P., M.P. and Maharashtra as Homogeneous Tribal Society and to say that Naxalism is a problem existing coterminous with the Homogeneous Tribal Society. The fact is, that Naxalism exists as a political ideology beyond the tribal belt. The front organisations of Naxalites among students, workers, intellectuals etc. would believe the fact that Naxalism is only a tribal movement. Naxalism exists in tribal area because : (1) Existence of discontentment; (2) availability of forest area suitable for guerrilla tactics, (3) inaccessibility of these areas to the enemy - the police and (4) non-existence of worthwhile grass root administrative machinery.

Another fiction circulating among well meaning people is that administrative process is the cause for naxalism as it is anti-tribal and non-responsive to the needs of tribals. There may be inadequacies, lack of involvement and dedication on the part of administrative machinery but to say that nothing was done for the tribals by the administration is far from the truth. By the same token, the description of police as abettors to exploitation of tribals by vested interests and feudal elements is a fiction. Police are a law enforcement agency. The law specifies the areas where police can act. Murder, Arson, Loot, Extortion, Kidnapping, Sabotage are prescribed by law. Once they are committed, the police are to step in. Extenuating circumstances, if any, can be taken notice of only by the Judiciary. For example, if a harassed debtor uses violence against a usurious money lender and causes him serious injuries, police have to take action against the perpetrator of violence. The reason for the same can be adjudged as just or otherwise only by a court of law. Effective and efficient law enforcement would appear to the uninitiated as Police siding with the ‘haves’ and against the ‘have nots’. Law is always reactive and seldom proactive. Police have to enforce the law as it stands on the statute book. It is not their’s to reason why.

In a guerrilla war situation, where new personnel of the forces of law and order operate, certain excesses are bound to happen. One cannot in a war situation discern between a friend and a foe. Where it is a question of life and death, the one who pulls the trigger faster survives. As a trained force, the police come out more successful. In such situations innocent persons may also get killed. There are provisions in the law and administrative procedures to determine whether such deaths were justified and were not the result of premeditated malice. None can support fake encounter deaths or violence against innocent people by the police. They are required to be put down with an iron hand. The wrongs can not make one right. Naxalite killings cannot be an excuse for fake encounters and police excesses. Conversely, alleged police excesses can not be the rationale to support naxal violence.

There are many self appointed rights groups to articulate vociferously against state terrorism and police excesses. One is surprised to find these elements remaining mute when it comes to the question of excesses and crimes by Naxalites. Why this double standard? Is it fear psychosis of possible reprisals by Naxals or a tacit approval of Naxalite ideology. One can understand the affected party, the Naxalites, demanding the removal of ban. But, one is at a loss to know why law-abiding citizens and intellectuals clamour for this.

Tribal and rural development has lagged behind by many decades and urgent steps are to be taken to render justice to them swiftly and efficiently. Unless this is done, conditions in these areas would be ripe for any violent groups to exploit. Positive steps are to be taken to:

1. Eliminate Benami holdings in Tribal/Rural areas,
2. Assign surplus land to landless poor,
3. Ensuring payment of minimum wages to the tribals/rural poor,
4. Supply of essential commodities at subsidised rates,
5. Tribals should be allowed to collect, sell and utilise minor forest produce. This right should be well publicised among tribals and harassment of petty forest officials should stop,
6. ensure abolition of Bonded Labour,
7. Provide drinking water, medical, educational, and irrigation facilities,
8. Provide easy credit facilities and eliminate money lenders,
9. Establish a specially structured GIRIJAN Organisation which can function multi-dimensionally and initiate all pro-developmental activities under one roof. Plethora of organisations/corporations only confuse the tribals,
10. Impart training in simple skills to the tribal youth to enable them to play a useful role in their community,
11. Create a simple and unified Criminal Justice System in the Tribal areas to render instant justice to the community,
12. Improve communications. All weather - Roads, Wireless, telephone facilities, postal facilities,
13. Special T.V.Radio Programmes in Tribal dialects to educate the tribals, and
14. Forest contracts are to be given only to tribal cooperatives.

(1) Order and security are prerequisites for economic development. Hence police presence in Tribal areas is not only necessary but to be strengthened.

(2) Instead of increasing armed police, specially trained civil police personnel should be posted in Tribal hamlets/villages to assist the tribals in their developmental activities and to prevent their exploitation by outsiders. The activities of police in tribal areas are to be closely monitored to prevent abuses.

(3) Large number of tribal youth are to be inducted into police service. Their training should be specially catered to developmental activities in Tribal area. They should function as catalysts for change.

(4) All past charges levelled against Police are to be enquired by a Judge of the High Court and excesses coming to notice to be punished as per law.

P.W.G. should convert itself as Peoples Welfare Group and give up violence. If there is a genuine change of mind, Naxalites would be welcomed with open hands to enter the main stream of life. But if it is only a play to fool the government, the bluffs will be exposed soon.

One would like to modify the Napoleon Dictum to say ‘Trust the Naxalites but do not let down your guard’. As we are part of recent history, we could only appeal to the Naxalites to give up violence and concentrate on the amelioration of the conditions of the poor. They have considerable scope to spend their energies in constructive activities. The Government should do all in its power to encourage the Naxalites eschewing violence to join the main stream.