Sirimane Nagaraj, ex-naxalite, who surrendered to the police recently, said he returned to the mainstream at the behest of many leaders, including freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy, and he would continue to struggle to eradicate inequalities in society. He added that from now on he will fight democratically for the betterment of the oppressed and suppressed classes.
Participating at a meet-the-press programme organised by the Mysore Press Club here on Friday, Mr. Nagaraj said the struggle to counter injustice and inequality would continue in society. He had gone underground because of the cases pending against him. While thanking the Shantigagi Nagarika Vedike, an NGO, for helping him and a few others to join the mainstream, he said he would not hesitate to fight against the government if any injustice was committed against the oppressed. To a question, he said he had surrendered not because of the age factor, but that he had realised that he could not achieve his goal remaining underground.
Mr. Nagaraj said that despite getting a job in the postal department in 1979, he took to naxal activities to fight for the welfare of the oppressed classes. To another question, he said he would convince other naxalites, who are underground, to join the mainstream. He reiterated that there was no hidden agenda in returning to the mainstream. He would fight for the cause of farmers who have been deprived of scientific pricing of their produce. Farmers and forest dwellers have been exploited by government officials over the years, he said, and he would fight for their cause.
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