The outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) has called for a boycott of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Chhattisgarh visit scheduled for Saturday.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Gudsa Usendi, the party has asked the locals to intensify its “militant” struggle against the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP)-led governments at the State and the Centre.
“We appeal to all the people….to protest this visit which is to sign certain MoUs in a bid to sell the natural resources of the State to big corporate companies. We appeal to people to take up all sorts of protest demonstrations like chakka jam (blocking of traffic) and burning of effigies of [Chief Minister] Raman Singh and Modi,” a CPI-Maoist statement, released on Sunday, said. The party has also appealed to the locals “to take up an extensive, organised and militant movement” against the BJP-led government.
Steel plant
The Prime Minister is expected to announce two projects in partially Maoist- controlled Bastar division of south Chhattisgarh — a mega steel plant at village Dilmili in Dantewada and an extension of the 140-km Rowghat-Jagdalpur railway line (second phase). Both projects will bring an investment of around Rs. 24,000 crore in Bastar, said a statement issued by the Department of Public Relations. The Dilimili plant will be a joint venture of the Steel Authority of India and the National Mineral Development Corporation.
Both projects are located in an area — about 10,000 sq.km in size — monitored by multiple wings of the insurgents for more than three decades. Hence constructing rail roads would not be a cakewalk, observers said.
‘Tribals hit hard’
In the statement, the Maoists also questioned the Land Bill, much like the mainstream political parties, saying it was aimed at “ looting mineral resources” depriving the tribals of their constitutional rights, the statement said.
“The governments have intensified their attempts to start Raoghat, Chargam, Aamdayi, Kuvve, Budhiyarimad, Pallemad and other such mining projects in the Bastar division and Rajnandgaon. A plan to start a military training school in Maad and turn it into an army hub is also under way. In this background, patrolling campaigns and attacks on villages have increased in all the areas of struggle, including Maad,” the statement said.
Mr. Modi will also visit capital Raipur.
Heavy security arrangements are being made across the Bastar region.
Chief Minister Raman Singh will visit Bastar on Tuesday to review preparations for the visit.
