Go back Barack Obama: Bastar
Maoists to launch protests against Presidential visit ‘Go Back Barack
Obama!’ This is how Naxal cadres in Maoist hotbed Bastar are
“welcoming” US President Barack Obama, the country’s chief guest on the
Republic Day. On a three-day visit to India, Obama will reach Delhi on
January 25. To make themselves heard across the country, the Maoists
have given a call for Dandakaranya Bandh on January 26. There are
hand-written red banners, posters and pamphlets all overin the
Dandakaranya region. The Maoists have also sent releases to various
newspapers and television channels in Chhattisgarh to communicate their
stand on Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Maoists in India
consider both these leaders as their enemies No.1.
The Left-wing extremists have given an economic twist to their
protest. Through pamphlets and press releases, they have strongly
opposed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in banking, insurance, mining,
defence, retail, telecom and education sectors. CRPF personnel stand
guard in a Naxal-hit area. AFP. “The Maoists have put up banners and
distributed pamphlets in Dantewada opposing the visit of the Obama. They
are making clear their opposition to FDI and the capitalism. To them
whoso-ever joins hands with America is their enemy. They have raised
slogans against the Indian government as well,” RK Vij, ADG (Naxal
Operations) Chhattisgarh told Firstpost.
He added, “By creating disturbances in the Red Corridor, their
objective is to make their presence felt when the US President is in
India. But we’re keeping a close watch on their activities.” Red
Corridor is the Naxal-infested region in the east of India spanning 10
states, including Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. “It was an obvious move
expected from the Maoists as they don’t want India to lean towards the
US. They would create disturbances prior to Obama’s visit, to mark their
presence and malign the country,” remarked Anil Kamboj, a
counter-terrorism analyst. He added, “India’s increased closeness to the
US is a geo-political strategic move and if everything goes well, India
will gain technological support. And, India will use it against the
Maoists, causing problem to the latter.”
Copies of a few of the Maoist releases in possession of Firstpost
bear the signature of Gudsa Usendi, the spokesperson of Dandakaranya
Special Zonal Committee of the CPI (Maoist). Opposing to the proposed
reforms in Labour laws, Coal bill etc, the Naxals across the Red
Corridor have called for burning of effigies of ‘tourist’ Obama and
Modi, by accusing both as “Fascists”. “The Maoists have adopted
multiple-approach to communicate their protests against the visit of
Barack Obama. Apart from distributing pamphlets and posters, they have
issued releases to the press through emails. They have expressed
opposition to FDI, Coal Bill and asked villagers to boycott the
Panchayat election in Chhattisgarh. Expecting some kind of disturbances
around the Republic Day we’ve beefed up security in the region,” said
Dipanshu Kabra, DIG (SIB), Chhattisgarh.
The Maoists had attacked a team of the Chhattisgarh Armed Force on an
anti-Naxal operation near Bilaspur three days ago. It had left three
jawans injured. According to Rishi Bhatnagar, a Bastar-based journalist,
“The Maoists always mark their protest during India’s national events
like Republic Day and Independence Day by displaying black flags in the
‘liberated’ zones in Dandakaranya. After the last ambush at Kasalpad in
Sukma on December 1, 2014, there was a hiatus in Naxal activities in the
region, but to get back into the news ahead of Obama’s visit, they
attacked security forces in Bijapur two days back. There can be
more.” An intelligence agency source added, “The Maoists have also
registered their protests in other parts of the Red Corridor. In an
attempt to draw international attention they would try to create
disturbances in their regions as well around Republic Day.”
Maoists to observe Jan 26 as Black Day in south Odisha
Protesting the anti people policies of the Central government and the
visit of US president Barrack Obama to India to attend the Republic Day
celebrations in the national capital, the Maoists have decided to
observe January 26 as a Black Day in five south Odisha districts. In an
audio release to the media on Thursday night, top Maoist leader and
secretary of Bansadhara-Ghumusar-Nagavali Divisional Committee Umakant
said the farmers of our country are unable to spend Rs 20 per day.
Unabale to repay their loans, they are forced to commit suicide, he
said. “The Centre has not taken any steps to overcome the unemployment
problem. There are around 50 crore unemployed youths in the country.
Besides, the Centre has not thought of the future of the nearly 10 crore
of child labourers who are working as migrant and bonded labourers,” he
pointed out. Referring to the law and order situation, the Maoist
leader said a woman in India is either subject to atrocity or rape every
half-an-hour.
Coming down heavily on the double standards of the Centre and the
state government, he said contrary to the announcement of a pro-tribal
policy, the tribals have been deprived of their rights on land, forest
and water that have been handed over to the multi-national companies
(MNCs). “Besides, the Odisha Police, in its anti-Maoist operation in
association with the Central para-military forces, has been torturing
innocent tribals by branding them as Maoists and Maoist sympathizers,”
he said.
The Maoist leader also alleged that the Narendra Modi led government,
which had come to power by assuring the people of bringing back black
money stashed abroad, has now gone back on its promise and is working
for the MNCs. Condemning the visit of the US president, the Maoist
spokesperson said the USA government, in the name of waging war against
the extremists, has been killing thousands of innocent civilians all
over the world to accomplish its imperialism goal. “For this, we
strongly condemn the visit of the US president and have decided to
observe the Republic Day as Black Day in Rayagada, Ganjam, Gajapati,
Kandhamal and Kalahandi districts,” Umakant said.
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