Maoist attack on the cavalcade of Congress leaders and activists in Bastar of Chhatisgarh is an attack on our democratic system. This is a matter of great concern not only for the Congress but for the entire nation. We need to recall that the Prime Minister has said it more than once that the threat from the Maoists is far more serious than what may ordinarily appear to the eye. Its seriousness stems from the ideology of the Maoists who want to put an end to democratic system of governance. Imagine if country like ours, a mosaic of cultures, ethnicity, religion and language were to abandon democratic dispensation and adopt the ideology of Maoists type of regimentation, what a disaster it will prove and how India will get Balkanized. Our freedom struggle against the colonial power was fought along the ideology of non-violence. Non-violence preached by the Father of the Nation is not anything exclusive to Indian ethos. This ideology has found reverberations all over the world. Great and humanistic personalities like Nelson Mandela and others of contemporary times have recognized Gandhi ji as the ideal leader whose teaching of non-violence can deliver humanity from man -made suffering.
Seventeen Congress leading including former Home Minister Mahindra Karma have been gunned down. Twenty others have been wounded including the former Chief Minister V.C. Shukla. Mahindra Karma has been gunned down for organizing anti-terror movement. PCC chief was abducted and then killed. This was a well-planned ambush and the assailants had made use of all tactics that would bring them the success of destroying the cavalcade. Here the question of providing adequate security to the cavalcade comes up. Why was numerically very insignificant security provided to the political party when it was known that the party would be travelling through Maoism infested areas? It is unthinkable to provide the few security guards with small weapon like pistol while the authorities know that the Maoists are in possession of bigger weapons. This question needs an answer. It should also serve as eye opener for future as well. It means that the authorities cannot and should not take any risk and should not lower the guard in any case.
This tragedy should make it clear to the entire nation that when national security is the issue, there is no scope for division of opinion among the mainstream political parties. It is a challenge to the entire nation and all truly national elements must come together and unite against the threat. This is the time when the ruling and the opposition parties both should forget their differences and solidly pursue national interests and the sovereignty of the nation. We believe in talks and negotiations especially when we have to deliberate on national issues.
Terror has appeared as the biggest threat to the integrity of the nation. Therefore there has to be collective response to terror whether from religious extremists or from ideological opponents. All minor interests should give place to common national interests and the opposition and ruling groups should devise mechanism of talking between themselves and also among the civil society. No nation can go on fighting against its own people for all the time. Nor can people who are pitted against their government go on fighting the might of the state for all the time. A way has to be found out for forward movement of the nation. The way is to invite all dissenting elements to the table for talks and talk to them sincerely. The Maoists and Naxalits too fall in this category. When they come to know that national mainstream parties are united in facing their challenge, they will certainly be forced to do some rethinking.
We condemn the dastardly act of attack on an important political party in Chhatisgarh. All mainstream political parties have also condemned it. The Prime Minister has asked the Government of Chhatisgarh if it needs help to control the situation and bring relief to the victims of attack. At the same time, we suggest that the Prime Minister take the entire opposition on board in fighting the menace of terror that is eating into the vitals of the nation. We are hopeful that opposition parties are as much concerned about the security of the nation as the ruling party. This threat has to be met through unity among the people of the country and their elected representativesinside or outside the government.
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