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Journalism of Courage
The killing of Congress MLA M.C. Narsi Reddy by suspected Naxals should leave no one in any doubt that Andhra Pradesh is witnessing a phenomenon that is nothing short of terrorism, plain and simple. In this particular instance, the armed assailants not only targeted Reddy, they fired indiscriminately into a crowd and even chased the MLA8217;s son and killed him. Just the modus operandi of the attack suggests that the so-called Naxals are now determined to create a reign of terror.
Terrorism is a word that is often used loosely, but this attack qualifies under any definition. It targeted civilians, it chose a high visibility occasion, and was brutally executed. Many, including the government of Andhra Pradesh, have harboured the illusion that the Naxals can be treated like a genuine political movement. But if they are part of a genuine political movement, why are they so afraid of participating peacefully in the political process? And even if they are disillusioned with the process, does this give them the licence to target innocent civilians? The Indian political system has its faults, but it gives people avenues to express their grievances. If anything, it has become too tolerant of forces that resort to terror and intimidation. It is time we took a tough stand against those groups that are afraid of democracy and are trying to subvert it through violence.
