Bardhan slams Orissa Govt for banning Naxals

Bardhan alleged that the Chief Minister himself was the "originator, creator and driving force behind spread of Naxalism in Orissa.

The Orissa government's decision to declare activities of the CPI (Maoist) and seven other frontal organisations unlawful "is a panicky step and will prove to be counter-productive," CPI General Secretary AB Bardhan said on Wednesday.

HT Image

Naxalite movement had socio-economic connotations and was fuelled by extreme neglect, poverty, continuing atrocities on tribals and common people and continuous displacement, Bardhan told newspersons in Bhubaneswar.

"Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik must find out what is wrong and why Naxals have spread to 17 districts from three or four in the past," he said.

Alleging that the Chief Minister himself was the "originator, creator and driving force behind spread of Naxalism in Orissa," Bardhan said 'a mere ban will not help.'

"You may close your eyes to a problem but it will not cease (to exist)," he said.

The CPI leader recalled that the Chief Minister had himself invited leaders of several frontal organisations for talks in the past but while returning some of those people had been arrested. "Why did he invite them? What sort of politics is this?" he asked.

"If anyone thinks that banning will rid Orissa of Naxal menace, he is living in fool's paradise."