In the name of 'Naxal-mukt Bharat' the BJP-led governments have unleashed a campaign of complete militarisation of resource-rich Adivasi areas like Bastar and launch an unbridled war on the Adivasi people and all kinds of protests and people's rights campaigns. This focus on military operations rather than the socio-economic development of the region is condemnable and lays bare the true intentions of the government to enable corporate take-over of these mineral-rich regions. The reported plans to convert these military camps into so-called “integrated development centres” to provide various welfare services including hospitals, schools, rations and other services, points to a plan of permanent military presence in the region.
Speaking at the Press Conference organised by the Coordination Committee for Peace at Press Club, New Delhi on 9th May 2025, Comrade Dipankar emphasised that Bastar is passing through an entirely new phase which is qualitatively different from earlier ones like Salwa Judum, Operation Green Hunt or encounters. Whatever name the government gives it, this time around it is essentially an extrajudicial extermination campaign which is not acceptable by any democracy irrespective of ideologies. Amit Shah has fixed a March 2026 deadline which translates into a licence to kill indiscriminately. In fact, the increasing numbers of encounters coming now explicitly make it clear that people are being killed one sidedly, and on a large scale.
Com Dipankar urged that, firstly, we must recognise this as an extrajudicial extermination campaign by the government which if continues, will be fatal for the democracy. This violence by the state is a killing spree, which is unacceptable and must be stopped. Such an approach irrespective of what Maoists or any other movement, organisation or ideology have done must be opposed. Com Dipankar hope that the Coordination Committee for Peace will succeed in raising this issue throughout the country and will build enough pressure on the government, recognising the hard task at hand given that the recalcitrant attitude of the Union government which neither listens to the people’s voices nor takes any responsibility and accountability on its shortcomings, and yet efforts must be made in that direction.
Com Dipankar also made the point about Bastar and Adivasis, and that these were Scheduled areas, which are mineral rich, and has a very rich cultural and historical heritage, has been facing complete violations of Scheduled area norms and the rights of the Gram Sabhas only to facilitate militarisation and corporatisation. Com Dipankar also made it clear that mining and land acquisitions in this area cannot take place without the help of military camps even when there were no Maoists in Bastar. It is for this reason that it is not only the Maoists facing repression, but even Gandhiwadis like Himanshu Kumar were forced to leave that area. He added that it is a complete suppression of dissent and whoever talks about Adivasis through whatever angle and means are being jailed.
Com. Dipankar clarified this is not about Maoists versus Indian State, given that we are witnessing the same modus operandi all over the country. We had seen brutal repression in Tamil Nadu’s Sterlite movement where police acted like a corporate army. Fact is the state is serving the corporate interests and working for the corporate plunder in all mineral rich areas in the country. The issue here is about Adivasis and their rights under the Fifth Schedule and their needs and aspirations.
Finally Com Dipankar stated that the Maoists have made it clear that they want peace talks, and when any organisation comes forward with such a proposal, the government should respond. However, this is not the case. In fact, this government has given the slogan of “Naxal Mukt Bharat”, and has also given the “Congress Mukt Bharat” slogan. Congress is a parliamentary party hence a different route of ED and CBI was taken, but Maoists do not go for elections as they have a peculiar mode of operation. Even so, even if the Maoists had not given any offer, even then as citizens for democracy and the Constitution we must hold the government accountable for this ongoing extermination campaign and any other such campaign in any part of the country, since allowing such a campaign will only mean complete extermination of democracy itself.
The civil society as democratic medium of this country should collectively demand this because it is in the common interest of all beyond ideological leanings. Otherwise any future struggle or movement belonging to any ideology will face a similar kind of repression.
Adivasis have become the victims of collective punishment as the state wages a war against them, and the brutality of Operation Kagar is intended to strip Adivasis of any claim over the forests, land and dignity. This policy of militarisation and war on Adivasis has to end, and there must be the guarantee of a democratic space and environment for the deprived and oppressed Adivasis in Bastar and other areas of Adivasi unrest.
