Thaindian News

By Madhusree Chatterjee
New Delhi, Sep 22 (IANS) Economic and social injustices are the main cause of Left extremism in India but that should not become an excuse for rationalising violence. Also, buying temporary peace is no solution, says internal security analyst Ved Marwah in his new book.

Vacillation and adhocism have been the hallmark of the government’s counter-terrorism policy, says Marwah in the book “India in Turmoil: Jammu & Kashmir, Northeast and Left Extremism”. (Rupa & Co, Rs.395.)

Based on observations made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Marwah feels that Maoism “poses the most serious threat to India’s security today”.

“The policy of appeasement to buy temporary peace could have disastrous consequences in the long run. Willingness to engage the Leftwing extremists in peace talks under pressure and without their willingness to give up violence would end up being counter productive and encourage more violence,” says Marwah, former governor of Manipur and Jharkhand.

“In any case, a corrupt and inefficient administration has little to offer. Unless basic political and economic reforms are undertaken, it would not be possible to eliminate social and economic injustice,” he adds.

The book, released Monday, is an overview of the internal security of the country with insights into the functioning of the government at the highest level and how casually “vital decisions concerning national security are taken”.

It points to the flaws in the administrative and political system in the context of the growth of terror and insurgency across the country; with observations, analysis and possible solutions to the problem.

A comprehensive strategy needs to be put into place to deal with both the dimensions - peace and development, the two pillars of a possible solution to the problem, Marwah offers as remedy.

Marwah, who has advised governments of Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar and has been a member of the National Security Advisory Board, feels “the administrative structure in the areas worst-affected by Naxal violence is the weakest”.

“The state police are generally ill-equipped, ill-trained and poorly led. The existing laws are inadequate to tackle the problem. The infirmities in law will have to be removed but the danger is that in their absence, the police would be pressured to tackle it outside the legal system - and in the process create more problems,” says the former Delhi Police chief.

“The strategy should be to undertake well-planned offensives based on specific intelligence to dislodge Naxals from their hideouts,” Marwah feels.

Targeting the extremist top leadership, who have remained safe in their hideouts since the mid-1990s, should form an essential part of the anti-Maoist strategy, he suggests.

According to him, 612 districts in 16 states have been affected by Maoism.

Citing statistics from the New Delhi-based Institute of Conflict Management, he says Andhra Pradesh tops the list (100 percent affected) followed by Jharkhand (95.83 percent), West Bengal (94 percent) Bihar (82 percent) and Chhattisgarh (77 percent affected) and Orissa (73 percent affected).

“There is a need to mainstream the tribal poor and not shut them out of the fruits of development in the name of protecting tribal interest and culture,” says Marwah. It makes them easy targets for the extremists.

“Forty percent of the country’s geographical area and over 30 percent of its population is affected by Naxalism. In terms of geography and demography, it is more than four times in area and eight times in population of Jammu and Kashmir, northeast and Punjab put together,” said Marwah.

The book also has separate sections devoted to insurgency in Punjab, northeast and Jammu and Kashmir.