‘Centre should think about Maoists' peace talks offer': Andhra ex-Home Minister who led 2004 dialogue with rebels
At a time when a massive offensive against the leftwing rebels, Operation Kagar, is underway at the Karregutta hills in Chhattisgarh, The Indian Express speaks to Jana Reddy, 78, about the peace talks he participated in and whether, with the Maoists pushing for dialogue, the process should resume.
Excerpts:
* What were the circumstances in 2004 that led to the peace talks with the Maoists?
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It is imperative to understand the history of holding those talks. Just days before we held the talks, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) People's War Group and Maoist Communist Centre merged to form the Communist Party of India (Maoist). That is, several armed groups merged to form one armed party that is in existence even now.
This party had been posing as the saviour of the oppressed: Adivasis, Dalits, and others who experience societal oppression. We (the Congress government in undivided Andhra Pradesh) held talks with them as they were socially rooted. If you look at the history of Communist parties, several of them had engaged in armed conflict for land rights and such, at one point in time or the other. The Maoists take root from such Communist history.
* Is Maoism only a law-and-order problem?
In the name of fighting social hierarchies, including feudalism and the landlords, the Maoists stood against the law and the Constitution of India. They have been posing as fighters for human rights while turning a blind eye to the law of the land. They indulged in violent acts in the process. Then they became a law-and-order problem for the entire country, not just Andhra Pradesh, because they posed a threat not just to the police establishment but also to the people. To protect the country, we had to arrest them and even take armed measures against them.
* If the party poses a threat to law and order, why hold peace talks at all?
The Maoists are a party that, as part of their purported fight for social justice, became an armed movement. They became a law-and-order problem.
At that time, in 2004, the Maoist party was approached to bring them to the democratic fold. When they were claiming to be fighting for justice, we just told them to come into the mainstream and adopt democratic means to fight for justice.
We told them that they were spending their days in obscurity in the jungles. We told them it was time to join the democratic process for just rights. We told them we were ready to fight for social justice as a government. Hold talks with the government to get justice is what we told them. We named this process of democratisation 'santhi charchalu' or peace talks.
* Can there be peace talks when Operation Kagar is underway in Chhattisgarh?
I think that a peaceful atmosphere is necessary at all times. Both sides (the government and the Maoists) should cooperate to bring about a peaceful environment. This peaceful environment should be brought about with mutual understanding. At that time, they (PWG) came forward, listening to our appeal.
* But now the Maoists want peace talks, according to their appeals.
Yes, at the time we called for peace talks and they listened. Now the Maoists are appealing to hold peace talks. The Union government should think about this. This cannot be dealt with at the state level anymore. It should be dealt with at the national level by the Government of India.
If the current Union government needs suggestions on the matter, the Congress can give the same.
As an individual, I cannot suggest anything. But this is a countrywide problem and the Congress high command will come up with a suggestion. The party will ponder over all the factors in this case and come up with a suggestion. In my opinion, the party will give its suggestion very soon. It is a big issue that requires a big debate.
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