High stakes

Concerted ground offensives have begun,based on the anti-Naxal strategy that the Union government had drawn up in conjunction with Maoist-affected states recently. While the chase of the Naxalites brings relief it should,at the same time,be remembered that the initial stage of the offensive had been put on hold because of the Jharkhand polls,and can only now be extended to the state,which at last has a government in place. In fact,the state is at the confluence of three national issues: the debate on small states,on mining,and on tackling the Maoists. Therefore,even though Chhattisgarh,in the Centres estimate,faces the gravest Maoist threat,the operations that have begun there and in Maharashtra must pass the Jharkhand test for a national sense of Maoist riddance.

As of now,state police forces will coordinate offensives in Maoist areas,assisted by battalions of Central paramilitary forces. Even if the Centre is not piloting the operations,the strategy,in its fullest measure,is to keep the security personnel in affected areas for a reasonable period that is,long enough for the concerned states civil administration to initiate development projects. But,as part of a holistic plan,the battle will be taken to the Maoists,with surgical strikes wherever necessary. Apart from the fact that the strategy is premised on taking the states on board,each state administration also has the responsibility to coordinate with police personnel of other affected states and with Central forces.

In that context,with a government in place,Jharkhand must not stick out as a potential failure. The new dispensation must engender governance and everyday law and order; the government must be stable and transparent. Responsibility for this must lie with the BJP,as a national party that helped form the government; it must ensure not just governmental stability but also administrative focus. Defeating the Maoists calls for all-round cooperation and action; and seizing the opportunity for developing the affected areas is the state governments duty.