Dismissing rumours that he has backed off from the “Vikas Sanghrsh Samiti,” an anti-Maoist group formed by the leaders of erstwhile Sawla Judum under his leadership, Chhavindra Karma has said the tribals of Bastar would have to fight the Maoists to bring peace and development to the conflict-torn region.
“After keeping quiet for almost two years and seeing many of our friends getting killed in the Maoist violence, we decided to form the Samiti. The government’s inability to rein in the Naxals in Bastar also forced us to do this. Eventually, it’s a war that Bastar tribals have to fight. The government cannot win this war for us,” said Karma, the son of Salwa Judum founder Mahendra Karma, in an interview with The Hindu.
“They [Maoists] have killed 93 members of my family including my father; still they cannot scare me. Already 18 villages in Dantewada have banned their [Maoists] entry in the villages. My aim is to take forward my father’s work. My father did not fight the Maoists with gun. He was for development and peace. The accusations of Judum being an armed movement was created because of the Special Police Officers who walked with Judum members for protection,” he said to a question whether the Maoists’ threat has forced him to back off.
Mr. Karma said the government would only be approached for provision of basic facilities in the villages and that he would not allow it to “hijack” his platform like it did Salwa Judum.
Published - May 25, 2015 12:44 am IST
