Mamata Banerjee has brought the fight between the government of West Bengal and the Maoists full circle. Earlier it was the CPI(M)-led Left Front government against the Maoists, with Ms Banerjee’s Trinamul Congress heading the “counter-revolutionary” upsurge against the Leftists, with the Naxalites firmly on her side. Now the chief minister seems to have placed herself completely on the side of the government!
She seems to have made up her mind that it was a necessity of the situation to subdue forces that make no secret of their commitment to the use of violence on an everyday basis in order to get their way. The CM’s characterisation of the Naxals as “supari killers” and “jungle mafia” makes it amply clear what she now thinks of their objectives. It is a pity the realisation did not dawn when the present leader of the state was the leading light of the Opposition only a few months ago.
On assuming office as chief minister, Ms Banerjee’s affection for the extremists appears to have lessened considerably. She first shot off a warning to her former comrades late last month when she urged them to come to peace talks or face the wrath of her administration. Now she has moved several steps ahead and tellingly declared that the Maoists had no “ism”, meaning they subscribed to no ideology or politics, whatever their claim, and were, in effect, an armed mob. This, in fact, is not so different from the characterisation of the Naxals by the CPI(M).
If the Trinamul Congress can make common cause with that party in dealing with the Maoists, it might not be politically so difficult to contain the Naxalites, provided the fruits of development are made to speedily reach the tribals and other poor people. But this appears an unlikely scenario, at least for now. Can the state Congress help bridge the gap between the Trinamul and the CPI(M) on this issue? Does it have the capability, or indeed the will? In state after state in India, the Maoists have played a nihilistic role. Their actions belie any link with pro-poor idealism which they spout as a matter of convenient propaganda.
The chief minister’s real test will come in a week’s time. She has given her former allies seven days in which to put their arms away and come to the table for peace talks. They have laughed in her face, pointing out for good measure that she had assured them that the joint security command in their stronghold, the Jangalmahal area, would be withdrawn, but had subsequently reneged on her promise. The country will be watching Ms Banerjee’s next moves.