Maoists want to overthrow democracy in India, says Chidambaram

New Delhi, Sep 13 (ANI): Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday said the objective of the Maoists is to overthrow democracy in the country and establish 'Dictatorship of the Proletariat'.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the 'National Workshop on Appropriate Development Strategies for Effective Implementation of Rural Development Schemes of the IAP (Integrated Action Plan) Districts' here today, Chidambaram said the rebels had an organised political structure and a well-organised army.

District Collectors from 60 Integrated Action Plan districts are attending the workshop.

"The goal of left-wing extremism (Maoists) is not the upliftment of the poor or to bring about development. The goal of left-wing extremis is to overthrow establish Parliamentary democracy and to replace it with, what they call the 'Dictatorship of the Proletariat'," said Chidambaram.

"The methods they adopt are extremely violent methods. They have an organised political structure and a well organised People's Liberation Guerrilla Army," he added.

Chidambaram highlighted the fact that Maoists have killed 297 civilians and 109 security personnel in 2011, which is more than the death toll in militancy and insurgency across country.

"The most violent movement in India is not terrorism (militancy) or insurgency but it is left-wing extremism. Take for example; first eight months of the current calendar year, owing to terrorist attacks 26 civilians were killed, due to insurgency in the northeast 46 civilians were killed in J and K (restive Jammu and Kashmir) 27 civilians were killed. But the number of civilians killed in left-wing extremism violence is 297," said Chidambaram.

"If you look at the number of the security forces killed, owing to terrorist attacks none this year. In the northeast 27 security personnel were killed in J and K (restive Jammu and Kashmir) 23 and in LW (left-wing extremism) affected areas 109 security personnel have been killed," he added.

Chidambaram acknowledged that the villagers did not side with the government because of trust deficit, governance deficit and development deficit.

"If for any reason the villagers think that Naxals are their friends and established government their adversary, then we will not win this battle, we can't win this battle. Ultimately it is the battle for the hearts and minds of the villagers. They have to be on our side," said Chidambaram.

"I take note of what Minister for Road Transport (C. P. Joshi) said and many of you said that villagers are not yet on our side or at least not all villagers are on side because of trust deficit, governance deficit and development deficit," he added.

The Maoist insurgency has gripped nearly one-third of the country, spreading into the interiors of 20 states of the country.

Therefore, with an aim to boost development in tribal-dominated regions, mostly affected by Maoist violence, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had approved the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for 60 selected tribal and backward districts.

The Integrated Action Plan is aimed at solving problems related to healthcare, drinking water, education and infrastructure.

The IAP districts have been identified by the government with certain common characteristics. These districts are tribal-dominated, forest-rich, mineral-rich, they fall at the tri-junction area of three states, they are far away form their administrative capitals and some blocks in the districts are larger in area than that of some of the states in the country. (ANI)