Maoist threat scuttles Cong Jharkhand membership drive

While the Congress witnesses a debate on whether Naxalism is a law amp; order issue or a socio-economic problem...

While the Congress witnesses a debate on whether Naxalism is a law amp; order issue or a socio-economic problem,the party is at the receiving end of Maoists in Jharkhand who were said to have scuttled its efforts to enrol members from interior villages. The Congress could not carry out membership drive in several districts of Jharkhand due to the Naxal menace.

The issue was learnt to have come up for discussion at Congress chief Sonia Gandhis meeting with senior party leaders here on Thursday. They included AICC in charge of Jharkhand K Keshava Rao,state Congress chief Pradeep Balmuchu and CLP leader Rajendra Singh.

At the meeting,these leaders were learnt to have informed Sonia that the party could not carry out its membership drive in at least three districts due to Maoist menace. As a result,the membership figure in the state stood at much less than expected. It was pegged at less than 5 lakh,lesser than what the Indian Youth Congress had enrolled in the state.

Notwithstanding the sympathy publicly expressed for Naxalites by senior Congress leaders,including K Keshava Rao,workers of the ruling party at the Centre have been at the receiving end of Maoists in Jharkhand. At least two Congress leaders,including a block unit chief,were killed by Naxalites this year. Hundreds of workers have quit the party due to Maoist threat.

If you dont leave the party and tell its leaders to stop Operation Greenhunt,be prepared to get shortened by six inches from the top, a hand-written CPIMaoist poster,found in Palamau district on April 24 this year,had stated. Senior party leaders had then called on Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to apprise him of their problems. They had also met the then CM Shibu Soren seeking protection.

We could not enrol members in some districts because our men could not go to interior areas to carry out membership drive, said a party leader present at Thursdays meeting. He,however,sought to play it down saying that the drive was affected in only two-three districts. We will take up membership drive in such areas later, he said.

The Congress leaders also urged the high command to either hold election in the state or give consent to explore the possibility of forming an alternative government.