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Journalism of Courage
PWG naxalites have scored a major moral victory over the Chhattisgarh government in Bastar area, forcing resignation of as many as 39 elected panchayat heads for the first time since formation of the state.
The resignations come just a week after the PWG held an open court in Usoor block of Dantewara district, bordering Andhra, directing panchayat pradhans, Janpat panchayat heads and other local representatives of panchayati raj institutions to hand over their resignations by September 30.
Police say intelligence reports had warned them of such en masse resignations soon after the PWG held its open court at village Gaganpalli. But the state government, they admit, had opted not to intervene in order to avoid direct confrontation with the Naxalites, ‘‘who run a parallel administration in the Bastar region’’.
IGP (Intelligence) A.K. Srivasatva confirmed that 39 panchayat heads had submitted their resignations because of the Naxal threat. ‘‘We have asked for copies of these resignation letters. It’s not known yet whether these panchayat heads have mentioned reasons for their resignations,’’ he said.
While the official reason they have cited is ‘‘internal pressures’’, it is believed that with no support coming from the government, the 39 elected panchayat heads felt they had little choice but to hand over resignations to Additional Collector, Bijapur, before expiry of the deadline.
Recently, the PWG had killed about a dozen panchayat representatives in Bastar for refusing to act on their directive to submit their resignations or to stop development work in the area.
In the open court held at Gaganpalli, the Naxalites had termed the panchayati raj system a fraud and given an open call for a social-disobedience movement.
They had also threatened to block all development work being executed through panchayats and resolved to create their own with people’s participation, to execute development schemes, run schools and health institutions.
Already, in some villages, Naxalites have formed special ‘gram raj committees’, which are assigned the task of executing welfare and development work. There are plans to open schools for tribal children.
Those who oppose their schemes are often axed to death, after perfunctory ‘public adalats’ (public courts).
In the just-concluded Assembly session, the BJP had asked CM Ajit Jogi to shun his ‘‘soft’’ attitude towards Naxalites and deal with them with a heavy hand ‘‘before it rebounded on the government’’. Jogi had kept silent.
Senior officials, including Chief Secretary Arun Kumar, were not available in Raipur for comments as Jogi has flown ministers and officials to Delhi for a Cabinet meeting, followed by an appointment with PM A.B. Vajpayee on paddy purchase and drought relief.
Jogi is slated to leave for a week-long trip to Malaysia and China tomorrow.
