Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Tackling naxalites

The decision by the Centre and the States affected to make joint task forces functional to combat naxalites is welcome, considering the extent to which they have spread across the States. Naxalism or the Maoist movement has taken a new form. It is no longer a group committed to achieving social goals. Its cadres indulge in lawlessness and oppose formal state structures for the sake of opposing rather than doing anything useful for the poor and downtrodden.

Because of mishandling of naxalism by some States, particularly by the Rajasekhara Reddy Government in Andhra Pradesh in its first year, the naxalites have grown in numbers, acquired more arms and money, and established a corridor through many States.

Aditi Manthripragada,
Gurgaon, Haryana

Naxal activities are spreading like wildfire across States. No government can claim that it has rooted out naxalism, which enjoys tacit support from some quarters.

Depending upon which party is in power in different States, the naxalites move into `safe' States after unleashing violence in a given place. The time is ripe for the Centre to come out with a unified strategy to tackle the serious issue, which has national overtones because of the sheer extent of the naxalites' influence.

R.K. Sinha,
Mysore

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

For a two-track response to naxalism
A way out of cable gridlock
Iran and the invention of a nuclear crisis
China, Japan, and a new vision of the U.N.
Some uncomfortable questions
A Prime Minister's road trip and after
Freedom of speech non-negotiable
Is the U.K. Government the obstacle?
Tackling naxalites
BJP matters
Musharraf vs. women
Investigate charge
Timely
Life term
Endless debate

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu