Social activist Swami Agnivesh has volunteered to broker peace talks between Maoists and the government if the latter announced three months' ceasefire from May 15 to August 15 and halted its “Operation Green Hunt” against the extremists. He was confident that a breakthrough could be achieved and the Maoists made to come to the negotiating table if his proposal was accepted.
“I appeal to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene in the issue and he can even appoint a senior Minister like A.K. Antony to oversee the enforcement of the ceasefire,” Swami Agnivesh told The Hindu here on Saturday.
“This cessation of hostilities will end everything and kidnappings too will come to a halt,” he said, referring to the recent kidnapping of Sukma (Chhattisgarh) District Collector Alex Paul Menon on April 21, for whose release negotiations were going on between the representatives of the Maoists and government mediators.
Asked whether he could give a guarantee that the Naxals would not violate the ceasefire during the truce period, he said: “I am quite confident that the Maoists will uphold their assurance and come to the negotiating table if the government is genuine in halting the search operations.”
Swami Agnivesh claimed that the deceased Maoist leaders Kishenji and Cherukuri Rajkumar known as Azad had issued statements mentioning their intention to hold peace talks. But the government did not accept the offer. Dr. Singh, he said, should get himself fully involved in the issue and he could even convene a meeting of the Chief Ministers of the Naxal-prone States — Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra — to find an amicable settlement.
On the Alex Menon abduction issue, the social activist said the Maoists had themselves asked him not to volunteer as the mediator this time as the Chhattisgarh government had humiliated him earlier. A group comprising Special Police Officers (SPOs) of Chhattisgarh and members of the Salwa Judum had attacked him during March last year when he attempted to deliver relief to a village allegedly torched by the security forces in Dantewada district.
In February last year, Swami Agnivesh had mediated and secured the release of five policemen kidnapped by the Maoists.
Keywords: Maoist crisis, Swami Agnivesh, Maoist threat
Indeed, corruption and mismanagement make people angry, and turn to militancy, with the ultimate goal of having a communistic form of government in India. If we dont want that, and prefer a democratic government, then all of us have to fight these ills peacefully. If you really want to make a difference, try to be a MLA or MP, and do your bit. Turning to violence does not really solve the matter, it just increases government expense to fight the militants, and takes off much needed funds from tribal and other welfare. Ultimately, there is nothing to talk about between the Maoists and government. The Maoist want a communist regime, like in China or past Russia, which will not be accepted by most of us.
Agnivesh is not a Swamy, He is tiger under cow skin!!
if we analyse the present situation of govt working,then we might conclude that majority of public is so dissatisfied with their lack of coordination,rampant corruption and disarray in police and killing,arresting of innocent people and holding thousands in jail without any trial is most burning issue in majority of tribal area,it is govt lack of understanding which is pushing majority of innocent people towards militacy because law,politics dnot give them method to resolve their genuine issue under indian constitution, their land,livelihood is uprooted by blatant exploitation of their land, mine,and forest,majority of cases slamped by forest deptt for cutting single braches which is their ancentral property,why not evolve village,state pertnership which may both amicable for both parties,crony capitalism is direct fall of their ego,survival and sustainable livelihood,we need to make them part of development, whole policies should be made after consulting them and giving them share
The Govt.has a responsibility to ameliorate the condition of the Tribals and weaker sections of the society.The govt.has ignored this responsibility over 6 decades. Though article 14 of the Constitution makes all Indians are equal before the Law. But it is not honored in letter and spirit so far.The Tribals remain 2nd classd citizens in our country. Otherwise how can anyone explain why poor SCs are used even now to carry night soil even though scavenging was abolished many years ago.Whbat is going on is the rule of the upper caste for the upper caste. Even the hundreds of crores meant for improving the lot of the Tribals are pilfered by the Babus and Politicians with impunity. There should be a coherent oicy for the development of the Tribal areas and this should be monitored by the CAG on continuous basis and the lapses should be brought out yearly throgh press briefing. Perhaps this may help in development of Tribal areas.
Swami Agnivesh is not reliable.His intentions are not clear.Govt will do well to keep him at bay. The union govt should actively coordinate with the state govt.There is no scope for politics.
Swamy Agnivesh is trying to misguide the entire nation by demanding ceasefire from the government.The government is not firing all the time.It is the Maoists who are relentlessly continuing with insurgency.It is they who should stop their gun running,kidnapping etc against the Government officials.It is now public knowledge that the Maoists are having weapon manufacturing factories in the tribal belts where the security personnel are unable to reach with out becoming cannon fodder.The Maoist movement in India is not at all a socioeconomic problem as is made out to be by the votaries of Maoism. Had it been so,they would not have chosen to wage war against the nation,would not have created factories for making sophisticated weapons,would not have enslaved the poor tribal villagers,would not have prevented developmental works in the villages.The Maoists must have a lot of money at their disposal which has been extorted by abductions or siege,beside money contributed by enemies of India.
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