Sirimane Nagaraj and Noor Zulfikar, two former naxalites, returned to the mainstream here on Monday. Thanking the government for facilitating them to join the mainstream, they said their struggle against social evils would continue through democratic means.
Freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy and journalist Gauri Lankesh, members of the State-Level Committee set up to oversee implementation of surrender/assimilation and rehabilitation policy for left-wing extremists, and representatives of progressive organisations greeted them. Sirimane Nagaraj’s wife Hemalatha and daughter Mallige were also present. Later, both of them were presented before the district-level committee, headed by Deputy Commissioner B.S. Shekharappa, which recorded their statements.
Sirimane Nagaraj, in his statement, said it was a significant day for him. “We were looking for an opportunity to join the mainstream. We had to separate from our comrades in the CPI (Maoist) eight years ago because of our views. However, we could not return to the mainstream because of the police cases against us. We got an opportunity now, and for that we are thankful to the government and Shantigagi Nagarika Vedike,” he said. Nagaraj said he would involve himself in democratic struggles against inequality.
Noor Zulfikar described their decision as well-thought-out. “Since the days when Saketh Rajan stressed the need for an arms struggle in Karnataka, we had opposed it. Later, we lost many of our comrades in this struggle. We reiterated our stand many times to our comrades. As our friends felt that armed struggle was the only way, we separated from them,” he said.
Mr. Shekharappa told presspersons that as per the government procedure, the committee would produce both of them before a judicial magistrate and the judicial process would begin.
“Sirimane Nagaraj has a case related to unlawful assembly in Sringeri. Noor Zulfikar has cases in Jayapura and Sringeri police stations.”
