The Hindu : THE CHALLENGE OF PEOPLE'S WAR

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Tuesday, Mar 23, 2004

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THE CHALLENGE OF PEOPLE'S WAR

THE TRIPLE KILLING last week in Andhra Pradesh, of two ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) functionaries and a security guard of another, by the People's War, confirms fears that the banned terrorist movement is bent on disrupting the democratic, electoral process in the State. The incidents have taken place in broad daylight and in different areas — Visakhapatnam, Nalgonda and Medak. The targets have been TDP district functionaries and, in the first case, the husband of the State's Social Welfare Minister, Meena Kumari. Two young gunmen shot the victims at point blank range and delivered a chilling message to the ruling party and Government. It is obvious that the People's War (PW) is targeting the TDP, the police and offices as well as establishments of the Central and State Governments. At a time when Andhra Pradesh is gearing for simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and the State Assembly, to be held in two phases next month, the protest week organised by the PW and the dastardly killings make the ruling party, its candidates and functionaries vulnerable to such attacks along a broad front. This is certainly going to put the TDP at a disadvantage in relation to its main rival, the Congress.

It has become customary for the PW and some other extremist organisations to step up their offensive whenever the democratic process is set in motion. There was a time when Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu attempted to open a dialogue with the Naxalites in the State, but the talks did not make much headway. Six months ago, the PW came close to success in its attempt on Mr. Naidu's life at Tirupati, after which the Chief Minister decided to dissolve the State legislature and seek a fresh mandate. Over 30 TDP functionaries have been killed since the dissolution of the House in November 2003. All political parties must come together and work with the Government to eliminate armed extremism and terrorism in all its forms. The ruling TDP is already facing a major challenge from the Congress-Telangana Rashtra Samithi combine in the Assembly elections and has to make the best of the support it has in the coastal and Rayalaseema areas if it has to retain power in the State. If the PW persists in going after the TDP, killing its candidates and functionaries, it may be an uphill task for Mr. Naidu and his party.

There are some genuine causes and social factors that have provided the space for People's War to grow. But extremist groups must realise that violence or terror cannot solve any problem or make life easier for the people they claim to represent. In a democracy, there is no room for the bullet and the bomb. If the PW is at all keen on taking up the problems of the people, the only way will be to enter the democratic mainstream and gain both credibility and acceptability. It cannot achieve anything enduring by terrorising people and gunning down those who have the people's mandate for a fixed term. It is a double tragedy that a section of unemployed and disillusioned youth can be recruited for armed militancy and terrorism in the name of the labouring masses. They have only to turn back and reflect on the path they have taken, the precious lives lost, and the total lack of progress in achieving their movement's objectives. Whatever government assumes office in the State following the elections needs to create conditions congenial to the resumption of a well-conceived dialogue to overcome Andhra Pradesh's existential crisis.

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THE CHALLENGE OF PEOPLE'S WAR