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On April 4, the Chief
Ministers of the five states under the sway of the CPI (ML)[PW] met at Delhi to
chalk out yet another strategy to counter the growing influence of the
revolutionary forces. Also attending this high-level meeting were the police
chiefs and home secretaries of each state. The meeting was chaired by the
megalomaniac-home minister, Advani, assisted by his RSS home secretary, Kamal
Pande. Though the five belong to various political shades (Rabri Devi did not
attend) they were of a common understanding on how to unleash further terror
against the struggling masses, influenced by revolutionary politics. The
policies chalked out JOINTLY did not entail the alleviation of the acute
suffering of the masses, but focussed only on how to increase the level of
repression. Even the lip-service paid to the socio-economic conditions of the
masses, was to be met by a so-called ‘development’ plan involving a gigantic
scheme for building roads — not to help the people, but promote
counter-insurgency operations.
Unfortunately, for
these stooges of imperialism, each new strategy has met with dismal failure. As
Mao once said, reactionaries lift a rock to drop it on their own feet. But, what
marked a difference between this meeting and all earlier ones, was the
high-level of panic in the eyes of these rats who have been scurrying around to
America, Vietnam and even Turkey for assistance in counter-insurgency.
Particularly, the butcher of AP, Naidu, is terrified, after the removal of his
main hatchetman, Madhava Reddy.
Background to this Conclave
The ruling classes
thought that with the inhuman torture and brutal murder of the three central
committee members of the CPI(ML)[PW] on December 1, ’99, that the revolutionary
movement could be finished. They were deeply mistaken. On the contrary the
democratic and revolutionary forces have reacted to these extra-judicial
killings with an anger and sweep rarely witnessed before. Democrats and civil
liberties workers from all over the country voiced serious protests.
International organisations from many countries of the world lodged strong
condemnations with the Indian embassies in their respective countries. And most
important, a series of attacks were launched against the governments in AP, NT,
DK and Bihar. Retaliation, became a veritable movement.
So panic stricken
were the rulers, that by December 19th itself, the Centre decided to convene a
meeting of police chiefs, in early January, of the five states (Bihar was
included for the first time), for a new strategy to tackle the PW. The Centre
also immediately sanctioned the formation of 35 battalions of an ‘Indian
Reserve Force’ to devise and implement a common strategy. The Centre also
decided to provide training in weaponry and communications and give Rs. 13 crore
for raising each battalion. Madhya Pradesh decided on raising a hawk force, on
the lines of the one operating in AP. Also, a direct communication network at
the district and police station level was proposed and a plan to introduce
direct-dialing facilities in the police stations of districts bordering the
‘troubled’ states was taken up with the communications department.
But, even before the
enemy could plan its next step, the immediate retaliation by the democratic
forces was soon followed by a surge of lethal actions of the PW guerillas. First
came the annihilation of the MP Transport Minister; then a series of successful
landmine blasts on the police in Bihar; then successful raids on police stations
in East AP and in Gadchiroli in Maharashtra; then the landmine blast in Bastar
killing 23 police, including a senior official; and finally came the
annihilation of the most notorious, most ruthless, ex-AP home minister, Madhava
Reddy. Besides these major actions, there were dozens of minor ones targeting
the TDP, government and police officials, and their agents. Quite naturally, the
government was panic-stricken.
Now, to counter the
growing revolutionary movement they have adopted a three point attack. Firstly
they have started in massive disinformation campaign in a bid to isolate the PW.
Second, they seek to undermine the vast mass base of the movement through
economic baits and a common ‘surrender policy’. And third, and chiefly,
they hope to crush the movement through enhanced terroristic methods, by the use
of even greater force. In this plan, all the ruling class parties are united,
with the TDP/BJP combine being the most aggressive.
Disinformation campaign
A concerted effort is
being made to link the PW to the ISI. No evidence is ever provided, but only
indirect references are being continuously made. Even though the PW central
committee has issued a public statement denying such allegations, the ruling
classes persist in their propaganda. This disinformation reached a climax with
the killing on April 6, of a supposed member of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, in Jagitial
town, Karimnagar (from where the PW initiated its present movement), with the
press stating that he was once a member of the PW.
Simultaneously Advani,
who earlier stated that the PW has no ideology and consists only of self-seeking
criminals, has now changed his tune to say that they once had an ideology, but
that today this no longer exists. In a bid to wish away the ideological roots of
the party and its strong clear-cut political and economic stand points, Advani
and the media actively seek to paint the movement as lacking theory or a
view-point, and as though it is built around aimless violence. Besides, as they
have no answer to the party’s economic and political programme against
imperialism and feudalism, it is best for them to pretend it does not exist.
Finally Naidu, after
receiving severe blows, in a bid to appear ‘reasonable’ has made a show of
stating his willingness to invite Gaddar and Varavara Rao to an all-party meet
on the issue, while at the same time fervently preparing for more ruthless
attacks. While continuing his policy of torture and extermination, this butcher
seeks to show how ‘accommodating’ he is, while the PW is sought to be portrayed
as rigid. At the gangsters conclave, it was he who demanded PW be banned
throughout the country, and went to Delhi with a huge shopping list for arms and
ammunition !
Economic baits and Ruthless
Repression
While, on this
occasion the rulers were, forced to admit that the ‘Naxalite Problem’ was also a
socio-economic one, the Chief Ministers’ meeting did not put forward a single
proposal to alleviate the suffering of the masses — the proposals were purely
military.
The CMs meeting
decided to set up a Joint Operational Command, to be established at Delhi. This
would coordinate both "operations" and intelligence. Also a proposal to equip
the counter-insurgency forces with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to track down the
squads was under "active consideration". Further, Advani said that the
50% central assistance for counter-insurgency operations to the states, was
conditional on its effectivity in crushing the movement. Advani also announced
that he planned to ban the CPI (ML)[PW] throughout the country. Also, the
meeting decided on a "draft surrender policy" in which large funds would
be allocated for "rehabilitation". They also claimed that they would
encourage dialogue with the ‘extremists’ to bring them into the "mainstream".
So, the policy is to be economic baits for the weak, and the gun for those
who are firm and strong.
Chandrababu Naidu of
AP attended the meeting with a large shopping list, demanding : a reconnaissance
helicopter, AK-47 rifles, night-vision equipment and satellite based advanced
communication facilities. The CM of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmukh said that the
Command should be handled by the Centre and should include arming the police
with sophisticated weapons and communication systems, eliminating the
jurisdiction hurdle created by borders between states, and ensuring enough funds
from Delhi. The CM of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijay Singh, said that there is urgent
need for a unified police command, adding that ‘Naxalism’ had to be dealt with
at the political and administrative level.
At the meeting itself
Advani announced that the Surface Transport ministry had already earmarked Rs.
309 crores for building roads in the five affected states. In fact, a few days
later, the surface transport minister, Sunder Lal Patwa, announced that the
government intended to launch, in the current fiscal year, a massive Rs. 2,500
crore programme for building rural roads, under the newly launched PMGY (Pradhan
Mantri Gramodaya Yojana). He said that in the first phase all villages with a
population of over 1000 will be connected with all-weather roads. Digvijay Singh
in fact met Patwa in Delhi and presented a proposal for laying 2,700 kms of
roads at a cost of Rs. 201 crores in the PW affected areas of Madhya Pradesh.
Such then were the
military plans against the CPI(ML)[PW] which have as yet been disclosed.
Obviously much has been kept secret and will only come to light later. Yet, one
thing is clear — the ruling classes are totally isolated from the masses, and
can only consider the gun to control them. With the World Bank breathing down
their neck, even minor reforms have become impossible. Thus isolated, the rulers
are beginning to depend on increasing assistance of foreign agencies for their
survival.
Enter the Foreign counter-insurgency
‘Experts’
The isolation of the
rulers was best reflected in an "important debate" on the activities of
the PW in the AP assembly. In this debate it was only the ruling party members
who participated. The terrified BJP leader of the House wanted an "in camera"
session, because, he said, several members were on the hit-list and were so
afraid to indulge in an open debate. When the CM specifically asked the former
home minister, Mysoora Reddy, for suggestions, he said he had nothing to say, as
the CM was himself in charge of law and order. Thus, even in the assembly, the
CM and his henchmen, were made to face the music alone. Few were willing to come
out openly against the PW. The extent of their isolation from the masses was
further seen by the fact that the CM was compelled to apologise for the lathi-charge
on anganwadi women. He had also to face the wrath of a delegation of volunteers
of the Education Department, employed on a stipend of a measly Rs. 500, who
demanded a rise.
With the rulers more
and more isolated, they have become paranoic, and are turning desperate for
assistance in counter-insurgency. This reached a feverish pitch in April.
Since the setting up
of the Joint Working Group against ‘terrorism’ with the USA, American
intelligence services have been playing a pro-active role within the country.
The FBI which has a notorious record of covert operations in numerous countries,
has been allowed to officially set up office in India. On April 3, the FBI chief
was on a three-day visit to India and had high-level meetings with the home
minister, the PM’s National Security Advisor, Brajesh Mishra, the head of the
Intelligence Bureau and the head of the CBI. There was just one topic — how to
tackle ‘terrorism’. The joint group, defacto gives the US a major hand in
counter-insurgency operations within the country. It infact, opens the door for
direct US intervention within the country.
Besides this major
plan, the Defence minister, George Fernandes went on a lengthy visit to Vietnam.
His main agenda was to request the Vietnamese (who had a lengthy experience of
guerilla warfare) to train Indian officers in counter-insurgency. Even when the
Turkish Prime minister, notorious for his ruthless decade-long campaigns against
communist revolutionaries and Kurdish fighters, visited India, India requested a
joint campaign to fight terrorism.
Finally, the PM, home
minister and HRD minister, had a high-level meeting with all the chiefs of the
hindu-fascist organisations — to discuss SECURITY matters. Those who attended,
were the chiefs of the RSS, VHP, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, and the trade union,
BMS. Obviously a plot for communal violence would have been hatched to divert
attention of the people’s wrath !! What other ‘security matters’ could
the hindu fascists be a party to ?
All these fervent
plans will come to nought. There is no force on earth that can crush an aroused
and conscious people. Hi-tech counter-insurgency has its limitations, as it is
utilised by a mercenary force that only seeks monetary gain from its actions.
Besides, the lower ranking police and military will soon realise that they are
being used as canon-fodder to serve the interests of their bosses. They are, one
day, bound to turn their guns on their real enemies. Meanwhile, a movement built
on a revolutionary consciousness, will throw up hundreds and thousands of cadres
to replace their fallen brethren. That is why, inspite of the heavy losses faced
by the PW in the last few years, it has continued to spread to even wider areas.
This has been admitted by the enemy himself. The Indian Revolution continues to
advance to ever newer heights.
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