'Save India, Wipe Out Naxals', Maoist victims appeal to Govt.

New Delhi, Dec 19 (ANI): Anguished over the continuing Naxal threats, scores of persons participated in an anti-Maoist rally for the second consecutive day at the Jantar Mantar here on Monday to demand fair compensation, rehabilitation, jobs and security from the government.

Raising anti-Maoist slogans, the protestors from the Naxal-affected states of Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand and Bihar spoke at length about the sufferings they and their family members had to undergo at the hands of the ultras.

Holding posters with 'Save India, Wipe Out Naxals' written on it, the victims of Naxal violence also raised slogans like 'Naxal Bharat Choro'.

The protestors urged the Centre as well as the respective state governments to render fair compensation, rehabilitation, jobs and security for those affected by Maoist atrocities.

"My father was murdered (by Maoists) on January 5, 2009. My father used to help the police and formed a citizen security group with the police and that's why the Maoists killed him. We plead the government to grant us security, jobs and compensation," said Paneeta Kishtu, a resident of Jharkhand.

Maoists fear that allowing construction of roads, bridges, culverts, schools and other state and central development programmes would enable the government to 'reach' poor tribals and villagers, who constitute a traditional support base of the ultras.

Consequently, contractors are threatened or killed, schools are torched, electric poles are pulled down and construction projects, which could lead to development, are halted.

Another anti-Maoist protestor recalled the death threat given to his family by the ultras.

"On April 17, 2006, 30 Maoists broke into my house. I was absent then, but they asked my wife to arrange rupees 5,00,000 or else you will all be slaughtered. Under immense, fear we fled the village to take shelter in another village. We left all behind," said an extremely upset Birawar Pradhan.

"We had six acres of land, which is being wasted there. We are facing a lot of difficulties. I have to now work as a labourer," he added.

Meanwhile, Janata Dal United (JD-U) leader Sushil Singh highlighted the problems of the victims, who eventually fail to get compensation due to the diverse state policies.

"There are thousands of victims and their family members, who have not received any compensation, members of their families are yet to get employment. The country is lacking a national policy to tackle this problem," said Singh.

"Some state governments have made provisions in this area, while some others have opted to have zero provision. Sometimes there is selected assistance, where some people get compensation and others don't. There is a lot of anguish amongst people," he added.

The JD-U leader advertised the formulation of a national policy by the Central Government devising a common clause for providing compensation to all victims affected by any Maoist or militant attack.

"The Indian Government should introduce a national policy clearly stating the amount to be distributed as compensation to militant or Maoist attack victims and their family members. They should prescribe clauses highlighting the compensation to victims, the relocation of victims, arranging employment," said Singh.

"And when this national policy is formulated, all state government would be compelled to implement it, thus avoiding any trouble for the victims," he added.

Congress lawmaker Pradeep Manjhi, who also attended the rally, stated that the Maoist infestation would take time to tackle and cannot be eliminated smoothly.

"This (Maoists) is a very big problem. Maoists like militancy was once a loaded topic in India, but is now a big problem in India, considering the level of violence. We have been raising this issue and want to solve it through dialogue," said Manjhi.

"But I don't think this issue will be resolved easily. We would have to take numerous steps in its direction. All states, the Central Government and the people would need to work together to find a solution. But I don't think it can be done easily," he added.

The demonstrators, who urged the Centre to pay immediate attention to their needs and demands, had also organised an anti-Maoist rally at the same venue yesterday to press for their demands.

The tussle for power by the Maoists has led to a virtual breakdown of state-machinery in the villages of insurgency-hit regions, with many locals reeling under abject poverty and violence.

Maoists have of late significantly increased their presence in tribal and rural regions in Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa, as well as the central state of Chhattisgarh.

Stating that the Naxals are the worst violators of human rights, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram had earlier said that the people at large need to understand that the rebels are involved in widespread cases of human rights violation.

Despite strong initiatives taken by the Centre, the Maoist insurgency has gripped nearly one-third of the country, spreading into the interiors of 20 states of the country. (ANI)