Ultra left movement trying to make an inroad in UP

VARANSAI, Feb 8: While the cursed river "Karmanasha" nullifier of good ‘Karmas’ (deeds) , flows silently, demarcating the Uttar Pradesh — Bihar border, the toiling masses living on either side of the river are slowly realizing that their poverty and deprivation are not caused by this sluggish little stream.

The Naxalite movement, which assumed a dangerous shape across the river, in Bahbhua and Gadawa districts of Bihar, has reached three districts in Uttar Pradesh — Chandauli, Sonebhadra and Mirzapur.

The radical left Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist — Liberation), which after giving up underground activities had joined the parliamentary course a decade ago, has fielded candidates in almost all the constituencies of these three districts for this month’s Assembly elections in the state.

Mainstream political parties are trying to cope with this new element in the electoral politics of the region while the police is busy mobilizing its forces to ensure that elections are free from Naxalite violence.

The main Naxal groups, whom the police administration blamed for violent incidents, the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) and Peoples War Group (PWG), have not yet endorsed the parliamentary path and there are apprehensions that the gun might intimidate ballot paper politics.

Kaimur hills and large forest areas fall in these three districts, where tribals and dalits form the largest segment of the population.

Tribals are not identified as tribals in UP and they are counted as scheduled castes. Chakia (Chandauli) Duddhi and Robertsganj (Sonebhadra district) Assembly seats are reserved for the scheduled castes.

The leaders of various political parties and even the administration admit that people of this region, mostly belonging to Chero, Agaria, Kharwar, Chamar, Gond, Dhangar and Badi castes, live in abject poverty and fruits of development are yet to reach them.

Basmati Kol, a star campaigner of the CPI (ML), is contesting the election from Rajgrah (Mirzapur), where Congress has fielded former ruler of Badhar state Raja Abhushan Shah.

The CPI (ML) is trying its best to make this contest a fight between peasants and feudal forces.

State secretary of CPI (ML) Akhilendra Pratap Singh had appealed to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) to withdraw its candidate from the contest, in order to make it a direct fight between opposing socio-economic forces.

But the CPI(M) refused to yield.

Of the recent incidents of Naxalite violence and police retaliation, the most serious took place at Bhavanipur in Mirzapur district last year, where police gunned down 16 people, allegedly members of a Naxalite gang.

While the police claimed the action as a major success, the CPI (ML), CPM, CPI and other progressive organisations termed it as a "mass murder of peasants".

A few months later, a Naxalite group attacked a Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) camp at Khoraddeh area in Mirzapur district and looted arms and ammunition.

The police have identified six Naxalite groups active in this region.

Srikant alias Nathuram Gang, Sushil Mallah gang and Deonath Kol alias Bhagat Singh gang are connected with the MCC while Mohan Chowdhari alias Pawan gang and Shyamnbihari alias Vijay alias Salim gang are linked with the PWG.

These groups operate in the border districts of the UP and Bihar.

Former Police Superintendent of Sonebhadra District Dr K S Pratap Kumar had prepared a document on Naxalite problem and the police action plan, which suggests the creation of new police posts, deployment of additional patrol parties and better communication system and fire power.

It also says that socio-economic problems of the people should be solved on a long term basis to root out the causes of the growth of the movement.

Meanwhile, Akhilendra Pratap Singh and other CPI(ML) leaders allege that the Rajnath Singh Government had unleashed a reign of terror in the region and fake encounters, rape and other atrocities were being used as means to suppress the peasant uprising.

The Left Parties say that land, forest and water resources were traditionally owned by the tribals but the ‘contractor-mafia’ elements grabbed all these means, which were essential for the survival of the tribals.

Stone crushing in the hills was stopped and agriculture was being mechanised, resulting in mass unemployment.

The CPI(ML) manifesto promises that tribals would be included in the scheduled tribe category and separate reservation would be provided to them in jobs and elected bodies.

The party also demanded an increase in the minimum wages for tendu leaf workers and immediate payment of dues to them.

The CPI(ML) and CPI(M) are critical of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which also portrays itself as the party of the downtrodden, as Dalits and tribals are a common constituency for them.

These parties allege that BSP leaders Kanshi Ram and Mayawati were strengthening the feudal forces and were not interested in Dalit uplift.

The BSP on its part rejects the Naxalite methods and exhorts the Dalits and tribals to use their voting right to get rid of a ‘Manuvadi rule".

They allege that Dalits and tribals were being misled by the ultra left parties and meaningless violence only prevented "real Dalit uprising" from taking place.

Chandauli, Sonebhadra and Mirzapur districts also have political significance for the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Chief Minister Rajnath Singh hails from Chandauli and Mirzapur was the land of his political activities.

He assured the voters of tackling the Naxalite problem with firm police action and also of launching a massive development plan in the area for the uplift of Dalits and tribals. (UNI)

Political parties take to personal attacks in Punjab

JALANDHAR, Feb 8: In the absence of any key issues to woo voters, political parties in Punjab, including the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress, seem to be banking on vicious personal attacks through a sustained media campaign.

The ongoing media diatribe between key leaders like sad president Parkash Singh Badal and Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh has reached such a flash point that Badal’s son Sukhbir Singh Badal had moved the court against the alleged vicious and false propaganda advertisements being published by the Congress against the sad.

"Badal Hatao Punjab Bachao," says an advertisement by the Congress widely circulated through print media. Badal has also been portrayed in a bad light through caricatures.

The "malicious advertisement game" is not only limited to the Congress as the Akalis have hit back with series of advertisements lampooning Amarinder Singh.

While one advertisement shows former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao being hauled up for corruption with the bottom line "save Punjab from foxes of corruption", the other goes on to explain scams and scandals during the Congress rule including telecom scam, Bofors case and JMM bribery case.

Both the Akalis and the Congress have not lagged behind in launching a tirade on each other through a sustained media campaign on the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue especially after the apex court judgement directing the Punjab Government to complete the construction of the long-pending canal within a year.

Former SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who once was considered to be among close friends of Badal, has also joined the bandwagon by levelling personal insinuations against Badal and his wife through election speeches.

While the Congress does not find anything wrong with the advertisements, the Akalis have moved the court.

However, the Election Commission is of the view that policies and programmes of one party can be criticised by other and vice versa. The Commission maintains that personal attacks against any individual amounts to violation of election code of conduct. (PTI)