A lost cause: On the Gadchiroli encounter and Maoists

News: At least 26 Naxals were killed recently in an encounter with the Maharashtra police in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra.

About Gadchiroli district

Gadchiroli is a largely forested and tribal-dominated district. The district is among Maharashtra’s poorest and “severely affected” by left-wing extremism.

The present situation of Left-Wing Extremists in India

Over time, the Maoists have managed their own strikes against security forces, but such attacks have not yielded an increase in support base or increase in the red corridor. This is because,

1. Contribution of the Indian government: The government improved both the security establishment’s work and development schemes in LWE areas, 2. Issues with Indian Maoists’ programme: The programme has issues such as Replicating the Chinese Revolution of the previous century, using armed struggle as the means to achieve its aims, India’s condition at present is not similar to China in the 1920s etc., 3. Change in people and peasants mindset, 4. Maoists’ refusal to acknowledge the diverse industrial base and liberal democratic instruments in the country.

So, to curb LWE areas, the government must act continually in winning over the support of tribals, peasants and other sections of people in the region and retaining people’s faith in the liberal democratic institutions.

Source: This post is based on the article “A lost cause: On the Gadchiroli encounter and Maoists” published in The Hindu on 15th Nov 2021.