Naxal Movement

Way back in late sixties when Naxal movement started it initially received support from the middle class. To them it was a battle against poverty , corruption, social inequality and burgeoning chasm between the rich and the poor, which they too liked to protest against prodded by experience, conscience and moral values but could actively do nothing better than exercising franchise to vent their rage in ballot box. So they stood behind the young crusaders who were determined and dedicated in their mission to change society. Many of them were brilliant scholars from reputed academic institutions. They shook the administration and made the corrupt and the dishonest tremble in their shoes. The movement was mainly confined in urban areas. But the middle class though continued to support the cause but could not bear with the way the movement was conducted. It was politics of violence and murder. Many policemen and innocent people were killed and many brilliant youths sacrificed their lives. In fact, they were gradually alienated and lost popular support they got to start with. At last the movement fizzled out but causes remained unattended by the administration, let alone go to their root and take necessary measures to minimize them. Rather govt heaved a sigh of relief and got complacent such things will never happen again.

Yes, Naxal movement is back again with much greater strength and momentum than before riding on the same social and economic factors those remained uncared for long. This time it poses the greatest internal threat to our country. It’s thrown the administration on tenterhook .Though Naxals, now called Maoists, have some supporters and sympathizers among urban middle class and intelligentsia, the rural poor are their main stay.Poverty, underdevelopment and administrative indifference and neglect are their stock in trade. Unlike earlier occasion, Maoists now mainly operate in rural and semi rural areas. The rebels have declared war against State to capture power to bring about revolutionary change in social and economic milieu for the deprived and the down trodden. But what’s important, no right thinking people across the country extend support to their politics of ‘ blood bath’. In that sense, they’re a segregated lot and state power is strong enough to curb this insurgency. However, it is true even if the Maoists’ movement is defeated, it’ll reappear after some time if the root cause of such upheaval is not duly attended to and redressed as on earlier occasion.