Negotiate with caution with PWG Naxalites
25 Jun, 2002 · 777
PV Ramana cautions the Andhra Pradesh governments which is engaged in negotiations with the People’s War Group
The People’s War Group (PWG) in Andhra Pradesh has no intention evidently of finding a lasting solution to the problems it has raised. For a group that thrives on intimidating politicians and intellectuals who speak the truth, and threatens businesses and professionals into ‘donating’ funds to finance its activities, and invests in real estate and bullion, an early and durable solution would mean the end of its ‘capitalist venture’. Hence, the outbursts of the PWG in recent times against the so-called insincerity of the government in taking the talks further, are patently unjustifiable.
India
resides in rural areas. Women constituted 10 percent of the delegates, but women cadres have quit the extremist group either because of physical humiliation or for exposing the higher leadership.
5 June 2002 .
The PWG cadre is a bunch of armchair intellectuals, murderers, lucre-hungry extortionists and the happy-go-lucky. The one word that best describes them is, if not “riff-raff”, “lumpen” – a much used term in Marxist literature. A survey by official sources found that only a miniscule percentage of its cadres now join the PWG for ideological reasons (two percent). Cadres signing up are those with personal scores to settle (five percent) or had a difficult life (20 percent), or wish to make quick money and enjoy power (10 percent), or just want to wield a weapon – even if it is a country-made gun and not the dreadful AK rifle, or SLR (five percent). At its party congress in March 2001, thirteen percent of the delegates were either poor peasants or working class persons, while 50 percent had an urban bourgeois background, whereas the overwhelming majority in
The PWG is indulging in the game of exerting pressure on the government by making allegations of police high-handedness. These allegations, made on June 7, and subsequently repeated, are entirely misplaced. If anything, they are a reaction to the government-circulated document, ahead of the talks, on PWG violence since the time the group declared a ceasefire. On the other hand, the PWG said surrenders in Karimnagar district were engineered a few hours ahead of the talks on
Contrary to the PWG’s assertions, the timing could be entirely coincidental; it did not interfere with the peace process. Besides, the recent surrenders in Karimnagar had commenced in June 2001. They peaked with the Janashakthi district committee secretary giving himself up together with most of his cadres and their weapons, after pocketing a ransom of rupees crore (US$ 208,000) by abducting the kin of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Vidyasagar Rao.
The PWG has not listed its demands clearly at the talks with the government, but securing de-proscription is high on its agenda. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is justified in adopting a cautious approach to the issue rather than lifting the ban. In fact, by agreeing to negotiate with the PWG the government has bestowed upon it the status of a party to the conflict. Lifting the ban would not only grant legitimacy to the PWG, and result in its gaining strength – in numbers, in finances through extortion, and in weapons-strength. It is the arrogance of weapon power that had led to the murder of several thousands in different States. In Andhra Pradesh, two of its most prominent killings were of former State Legislative Assembly Speaker, Sripada Rao, and serving member of the Assembly Ragya Nayak, both of whom were highly respected for their commitment to their constituents. The PWG had the audacity to declare these murders as “mistakes”.
The same arrogance has propelled the group to commit acts of extortion and impede development projects. Contractors in PWG pockets have to pay percentages that vary with the nature of the work and economic status of the concerned contractor. A drive across parts of Telengana is a grim testimony of telephone exchanges blasted, revenue offices burnt down, bridges blown up and police stations attacked and weapons looted. The Andhra government must keep these facts in mind whilst negotiating with the PWG.
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