The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday launched an attack on the Maoists stating that their world view was “warped, distorted and outmoded” and which does not take a position on issues affecting the working class.
Suggesting that the Maoists had to be countered on the political, ideological and organisational plane, party general secretary Prakash Karat said the strategy of the government in dealing with them like a terror organisation would not help.
“Their [Maoists] world view is outmoded, distorted and warped as they consider terror outfits like the Lashkar-e-Taiba or the LTTE as liberation struggles of South Asia,” Mr. Karat said addressing a seminar on the role of Maoists in India.
Giving a historical perspective, he criticised the Maoists for importing and borrowing the ideology from the Communist Party of China when it was in the grip of Left sectarianism during the Cultural Revolution. China, he said, had discarded this ideology that the ultra-Left in India is still following.
The policy of fighting the Maoists through the State suited the group since the real brunt of police action would eventually be felt by the tribals who would get further alienated and once again further the Maoists’ agenda. Besides, the Maoists could establish foothold in tribal areas due to problem of displacement and loss of livelihood due to government policy.
Taking on the Central government, he said that while it talked of development in terms of infrastructure, health care and other issues, it did not address the real issue of displacement of tribal people on account of its mines and mineral policy.
He said the government should implement socio- economic programmes in the affected areas to ensure that tribals were not evicted from their traditional habitat and while they also receive education, healthcare and other basic facilities.
Turning to the situation in West Bengal, he accused the Trinamool Congress and the Maoists of running a joint enterprise targeting the CPI(M) since the party was fighting them politically.
“The Maoists are attacking and killing our cadres because West Bengal is the strongest base of the Left and they are working to disrupt it,” he said adding that hard times would continue but it was not a new situation for the party which faced worst attacks during 1970-71.
As to the romantic view about the role of Maoists among a section of the Left intelligentsia, Mr. Karat said the efforts should be to confront and discuss it not just in West Bengal but also outside.
