Area Dominance And Deevelopment-key To Maoist Challenge In India

Aug. 1, 2010 - PRLog -- ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE ON “MAOIST CHALLENGE”
“AREA DOMINATION AND DEVELOPMENT” –KEY TO MAOIST PROBLEM.

Global Center for Tension Diffusion and Peace Initiative supported by Central Association for Security Industries organized the first Roundtable Conference on ‘Maoist Challenge’ at Constitution Club, Rafi Marg- New Delhi on Friday, 30th July 2010.
 Maharaja Bhanu Prakash Singh, former Governor and Union Minister ,chaired the conference.
During the welcome address Kunwar Vikram Singh, Chairman of the Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI) and Convenor of the conference, reiterated that the issue is of serious concern to our Nation’s integrity and sovereignty and much needs to be still covered in terms of a correct response to the problem.
Mr. C Pal Singh – Co convenor Ex- IG police  (Punjab) delineated the key issues involved. He highlighted that despite prime minister having termed Naxalite terrorism as greatest challenge to the security of nation, more than six years back, there is still, no coherence in national threat assessment, no consensus on response, no coordination in operations. Inter party and intra –party politicking is adversely affecting our responses. . .
Shri Pyarimohan Mohapatra , MP from Orissa was of the view that the Maoist movement is no more ideology driven. Local level lumpen elements are involved in killing of innocent people who do not follow their diktat .Extortion , protection money from Mining Industry , contractors etc. is rampant .Tribals are terrorized by killing of innocent civilians by branding them police informers. This forced support from tribals is being used as a buffer against forces. He was of the view that the ultimate agenda of the Maoist is to take over this country by violent means.
Shri Bhagat Charan Dass ,MP  Kalahandi, Orissa said that the Maoist problem needs to be tackled at all fronts. There is an immediate requirement of increasing the strength of the Police Forces in states and modernizing them. He said the negotiations for peace process must be kept open and Maoist should be encouraged to come forward for a dialogue.The Mao’ist are getting huge funds from the big industrial houses who are operating in these areas and are making immense profits.
Swami Agnivesh ,a renowned human rights activist, was of the strong opinion that military options is not the solution to this problem. Shri Satyavrat Chaturvedi, MP from Madhya Pradesh opined that dialogue with Mao’ist must continue. However it is of concern that these groups take advantage of the ceasefire duration and regroup and rearm themselves during this duration. The measures for the confidence building have to come from both sides and Maoist should not expect it only from the Govt.  Maoists have to display their seriousness for talks by first shunning violenc. We have to develop a composite Strategy to tackle this menace.
Shri OP Sharma, former Governor advocated that talks with Maoist can go on but the people with whom the Govt. sits for talks must have a clear mandate from their leadership. They must not take the advantage of ceasefire.  .  
Shri K P Singh , Former Director- IB very strongly voiced his concern that we are already too late to identify the actual threat from the Maoist , and in mobilizing our forces for operational thrust. We are just indulging in showing off and in vacuous rhetoric. We are not taking any strong action. He termed this mind set as MAFA i.e Masquerading Articulation For Actions . The aim of the Maoist is to capture Political Power through violence. They are exploiting the socio-economic situation and creating Compact Revolutionary Zones (CRZ). They have waged a war against India and are a grave threat to National security. This will defile and destruct our democracy too. Today the Maoist have about 25,000 armed cadres, and at their will they can disrupt rail and road communications. They have access to open sea on the east coast .In a very near future our neighbour in Nepal will have a Maoist Govt. adding more problems for us and support to Maoist of India.
Shri Vinod Sharma, Political Editor of Hindustan Times, emphasized that there is a requirement of good interfaces. However trustworthy and honest men of stature of Vinoba Bhave & Jaiprakash can act as interface between the Govt. and Maoist. The encounter of Azad must be investigated.  

Lt Gen (Retd) P C Katoch, opined that:operations are essential but Military Solution is not the Key. Further Combat threats to strengthen legitimate government and rule of law to alleviate pressures that lead to instability. He cautioned the nation about the role of China, Nepal and Pakistan in aggravating the situation to meet their future military and political objectives. He said that total state of neglect by the government and non governance at State level will lead to more such insurgencies therefore development must be given top priority to save this nation.
Lt Gen SS Chahal former DGMO opined that before taking any military action against Maoist we must carry out a threat assessment and international ramifications of using military force. There has to be a political will to take action against them ,all operations must be synergized , structure for a unified command must be put up Constitutional and ground rules must be framed He said that army training facilities can be used for training special police forces to handle such types of insurgencies.

Other speakers included Sh. N C Pandhi IPS former Secretary- Security, Cabinet Secretariat, General C S Brar, Social Activists Shri  Naresh Chauhan and Gen Atma singh . Sh. Rajiv Pratap Rudy MP and spokesman of BJP, Sh. Inderjeet, Senior Journalist, Lt. General Rajinder Singh, former DG Infantry, Air Vice Marshal R C Bajpayee,Sh. Shivindra Pratap Singh, Risk analyst,Sh. N C Padhi, former Secretary- Security, Cabinet Secretariat, Govt of India, Sh. S K Sharma,IPS, Former Director BP&RD,Mr. Mahesh Sharma, Secretary General CAPSI, Col Pritam Mehta, Editor India Safe, Sh. Vijay Chopra, Chief Editor, Punjab Kesri Group.

There was almost unanimity of view that Maoist insurgency is the gravest internal threat and any uncertainty and indecisiveness, can be disastrous. It was decided that the gist of deliberations and recommendations of the conference should be brought to the notice of govt. Further Global Center for Tension Diffusion and Peace Initiative supported by Central Association for Security Industries should hold deliberations on similar lines in the affected states to mobilize opinion and ensure effective action against Maoist Challenge to the country. All participants emphasized on the major issue of total absence of development projects in the Maoist affected areas which is sole responsible factor for the rise of such insurgencies. Corruption in System, Non-Governance and doubtful political intentions will generate much more serious conditions in the nation.

Kunwar Vikram Singh, Convener of the conference announced that 2nd Round Table Conference will be held at Hydrabad. He said that a Report on Recommendation of RTC will be presented to Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, President of India and to Sh. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister for consideration. He said tha delegation will also meet Home Minister to discuss the outcome of this conference and its objective to move forward. He informed that the President of India sent a message of her good wishes for the success of the RTC.


Kunwar Vikram Singh
Chairman
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