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Why still prop up Salwa Judum, activists ask CM

NEW DELHI: The Campaign for Peace and Justice in Chhattisgarh has urged the Chhattisgarh government to declare Salwa Judum “illegal and unconstitutional,” and appealed to Chief Minister Raman Singh to fulfil his promise of compensating and rehabilitating the people displaced by this outfit and naxal violence.

In an open letter to the Chief Minister, the Campaign activists have demanded that the government reconstruct the Vanvasi Chetna Ashram, which the district administration pulled down dubbing it an illegal construction.

Pointing out that that the Chief Minister was an elected representative sworn to uphold the Constitution, the Campaign said: “We would like to ask you why you support the illegal burning of houses and property, displacement of villagers as well as the killing and rapes that have been carried out by Salwa Judum activists and security forces in Dantewada district. Now that it has been clearly established by the National Human Rights Commission and accepted by your government — as shown by your own affidavits in the Supreme Court — that the Salwa Judum is an armed organisation which has burnt down houses and destroyed property, how do you continue to publicly justify and praise the Salwa Judum?”

The letter says the Campaign activists have been waiting for the government to fulfil its undertaking to the court that it will rehabilitate all villagers affected and displaced by Salwa Judum and naxal violence. But it has not only failed to draw up a plan for rehabilitation or compensation but also actively prevented others from helping in rehabilitation. By demolishing the Vanvasi Chetna Ashram at a time when it was bringing back villagers from various places, “you have sent a clear signal of contempt to the Court.”

“In demolishing the Vanvasi Chetna Ashram, you have sent a clear signal that there can be no space for ordinary people who believe in non-violence and the Constitution. You are entitled to wage war against the naxalites, who have taken up arms against you, but you are not entitled to wage war against the unarmed citizens and against all constitutional norms,” the letter says.

At a press conference here on Tuesday, Nandini Sunder and Sumit Chakravarty of the Campaign said the Ashram — started by Himanshu Kumar — had worked for empowerment of poor Adivasis of South Bastar since 2005, occasionally incurring the wrath of the state and the naxalites.

The emergence of Salwa Judum compelled the Ashram to champion the cause of the Adivasis, providing them with legal aid and succour to those affected by the actions of the outfit and the security forces.

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