Mamata invites Maoists to talks but sends a message too /12/7/11

Mamata blitz in bag of gifts - CM invites Maoists to talks but sends a message too launched in Jungle Mahal what looked like a “bread-bombing” policy of aggressive pursuit of development programmes and peace with an appeal to people not to be afraid of Maoists, though she did not explicitly mention them.

ARNAB GANGULY

July 12: Mamata Banerjee today launched in Jungle Mahal what looked like a “bread-bombing” policy of aggressive pursuit of development programmes and peace with an appeal to people not to be afraid of Maoists, though she did not explicitly mention them. The chief minister invited the sceptical Maoists to talks, urged them to abandon the gun and steered clear of their contentious demands. But she showered development promises on the people and crystallised a police recruitment drive in a welfare offensive aimed at weaning aggrieved sections to the mainstream and removing the reasons that drove them to the rebels. The overall message she delivered at the Maoist-affected Nayagram and Jhargram in West Midnapore appeared to be: the government will spare no effort to hold talks but it will also not fight shy of political and administrative initiatives intended at drawing people away from the Maoists even if it means upsetting the rebels. Mamata made over 40 announcements — most of them new and some old — focusing on health, education and job generation, reminiscent of the “bread-bombing” policy some western nations had adopted to win over hostile or aggrieved populations. The thrust of Mamata’s development package appeared to be aimed at making Jungle Mahal feel that it had not been elbowed out of the resource allocation table. But, in an oblique reference, the chief minister conceded the Maoists have “misunderstood” her, the closest she came to acknowledging that the rebels are unhappy with the delay in releasing “political” prisoners and the refusal to withdraw central forces till they lay down arms. Mamata used the opportunity to issue a direct appeal to the Maoists to join the peace process. “My friends, who are misunderstanding me, I want to tell them to come for talks,” she said. The Maoists expressed their displeasure by telling people not to attend Mamata’s rally, the turnout at which was lower than that a year ago when she became the first senior Bengal politician to visit Lalgarh. Mamata did not mention either of the demands, suggesting that she is keeping the compulsions and responsibilities of governance in mind while dealing with the Maoists whom the current Opposition had said were in cahoots with her party once. The chief minister did not use the word “Maoist” even once during the 45 minutes she spent addressing meetings at Nayagram and Jhargram. One of her proposals that could rankle the Maoists as well as rights activists deals with recruitment of 10,000 youths from Jungle Mahal in the police force as national volunteers, home guards and special constables. Some activists saw a parallel with Chhattisgarh’s vigilante force that has been disbanded by the Supreme Court. But others pointed out that if Mamata implemented her plan, it would rob the rebels of a teeming source of recruitment. ‘Don’t be afraid’ Mamata made development the cornerstone of her speeches, at one point telling the people not to be afraid of those who stand between them and the state machinery. “They (the officials) are here to assist you in development. If you face any problem, go to police. There is no need to be afraid of the people who tell you not to take assistance from the government,” Mamata said. She did not mention the Maoists but the rebels have in the past asked the people to turn their back on all symbols of government. She also fired a direct development question at the Maoists. “What is the use of killing poor people? Why stop them from collecting food supplies from government offices, going to work, schools and colleges? There is no difference between us. We belong to the same country,” Mamata said. “We want peace, not guns. The battle can be ideological but it has to be fought democratically. Everybody should join the development process. There is only one way for the people to live. Guns can’t feed people, can’t provide them with health care, education and jobs. If you have to take up arms, do it for the country. Take government jobs, work for yourself. Take the gun provided by the government.” Central forces Mamata in Nayagram. (Anindya Shankar Ray) The chief minister made only one reference to central forces. “Central forces are not here to disturb people. If there is peace, nobody will bother you,” Mamata said, sticking to her stand articulated last week that the personnel will stay till arms are laid down. She also promised a special economic package for the rebels who surrender their arms. “For my friends who will abandon their arms and join the mainstream, the government will offer economic package and jobs. The government will ensure that you can lead your life with dignity,” Mamata said. While asking the people to go to the police, Mamata asked the law-enforcers to behave. “I am asking the police to behave well with the people,” she said. Police raid balm In this context, Mamata sought to address a grievance that played a decisive role in alienating the people of Lalgarh from the Left government. The chief minister announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh for Chintamoni Murmu, Lakshmimoni Pratihar and Gangamoni Murmu, who were injured in police raids on November 3, 2008, a day after the Maoists had triggered an explosion targeting then chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s convoy in Salboni. Others injured in the same assault will get a compensation of Rs 50,000, Mamata said. Alleged police torture in the immediate aftermath of the Salboni blast had driven people en masse towards the Maoists. “The incident had taken place in 2008,” Mamata said, probably to remind the people that the Left was in power then. Mamata arrived at Jungle Mahal with the top brass of the state administration, including chief secretary Samar Ghosh, home secretary G.D. Gautama and director-general of police Naparajit Mukherjee. Dial and declare En route to both the venues, Mamata did not resist the temptation to mingle with the people and play to the gallery. She stopped her convoy at a number of schools and held brief interactions with the teachers and students who were waiting by the roadside. At Basda SC High School on way to Nayagram, Mamata went inside and had a word with the students and teachers. Asked for a hostel by the students, Mamata took out her cellphone and made a call. Once she was through, she turned to the girls and said: “Don’t worry. Hoye jabe (It will be done).” At Nayagram, the crowd asked for a bridge to Bharsaghat, prompting Mamata to go into a huddle with the chief secretary and announce that such a project would be undertaken. In an impromptu decision, she also announced an archery academy at Kharikamathani, where the Jhargram meeting was held. Mamata will address a meeting at Sarenga in Bankura tomorrow.