The editorial “Keep out the armed forces” (Oct. 10) would have struck the right note had the Maoists allowed the authorities to do their work in the development of remote areas where these people have total control — be it by consent or force. Unfortunately, naxalites are preventing the agencies carrying out development work lest the people of those areas go out of their control and join the mainstream. They are acting more like bandits than ‘saviours’ of the downtrodden. There appears to be nothing wrong in using armed forces to root them out.
G.M. Rama Rao,
Visakhapatnam
I fully endorse the views that though the state is constitutionally and legally empowered to use the instruments of violence, frequent use of violence erodes the state’s credibility. Naxalites are alienating the people from the state by raking up issues such as social exploitation, unemployment, the almost non-existent education and health facilities, and a corruption-ridden local administration. The government should devise a multi-pronged strategy to alienate the naxalites by building public infrastructure and utilities, especially in education and healthcare, in addition to tightening the internal security-system.
Lajpat Rai Garg,
Panchkula
Cartoonscape by Keshav (Oct. 9) should serve as an eye-opener for all those who consider the naxal problem a mere law and order issue. If it were so, it would not endure for so long. Nor would it have in its fold committed workers ready to sacrifice their lives and intellectuals who understand society and economy more than most other people. The need is to examine the social and economic roots of the problem.
Krsna Karna,
Patna
