The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Naxalism a moral and political issue, says YSR

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Naxalism a moral and political issue, says YSR

Staff Reporter

Gives new definition to the problem; calls for `moral policing'

HYDERABAD: The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has given a new definition to the 35-year-old naxalite problem nagging the State, saying it is mainly a moral question.

He has based his observation on the ground that naxalites are spreading their ideology by claiming that the Government is functioning immorally. This has lent a new angle to the problem which could be tackled effectively only through `moral policing'.

Addressing the passing-out parade of Sub-Inspectors at the Andhra Pradesh Police Academy (APPA) here on Tuesday, Dr. Reddy went a step further saying that the naxalite problem was a political issue too as extremists wanted to wrest political power with the help of arms by toppling public representatives.

Dr. Reddy felt the naxalite problem should be viewed from the standpoint of `socio-economic-politico-moral' issues. But, it had to be mainly considered from the moral angle. He referred to the raging debate whether the problem was one of law and order or economic concern. It was not just the two but politico-moral, he said.

The Chief Minister warned that the Government would not keep quiet if naxalites wielded weapons in an attempt to demolish the democratic system claiming that there were problems. The country would undoubtedly be haunted by problems as it had a huge population. It was difficult to solve all the problems in their entirety. Describing the newly recruited Sub-Inspectors as `cutting edge-level officers' of the Police Department, he said they would do justice to their role by controlling the subordinates and effectively enforcing the law.He compared the efforts of a police officer to separate the good from the bad to a surgery performed by a doctor. The normal parts of a human body would be infected if a rusted knife was used in surgery. Similarly, a good section of society would be in danger if the professionalism of a police officer was not proper. The Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, asked them to remove the poor impression about policemen in the minds of the public. The DGP, Swaranjit Sen, wanted 4,000 personnel inducted into the police in the State every year.

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