Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma strongly criticised slogans allegedly praising the slain Maoist leader Madvi Hidma during a recent protest in Delhi. Speaking on Monday, Sharma asserted that people cannot be misled by "imaginary narratives" regarding the Bastar region, which, he stressed, was severely deprived of development due to Naxalism.
Hidma, a top Naxalite commander who originated from Puvarti village in Sukma district, was killed in an encounter in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh on November 18. Chhattisgarh police hailed the event as the "last nail in the coffin" for the insurgency in the Dandakaranya region.
The controversy arose on Sunday when some protesters, demonstrating at the India Gate against rising air pollution in the national capital, reportedly chanted slogans in praise of the deceased Maoist leader.
Speaking to reporters, Sharma, who also holds the Home Affairs portfolio, stated, "I have seen the video. They are young children (protesters) filled with emotions that aren't favourable. They were saying that sustainable farming is done through 'Jantana Sarkar' (by Naxalites). They have neither seen it (Bastar) nor understood it."
He slammed the protesters, arguing that by simply sitting in Delhi, they cannot "mislead others with imaginary narratives" about the reality of Bastar.
The Deputy Chief Minister issued an open invitation: "If they want to know the reality, they are welcome to visit Bastar. Inform me and I will arrange everything. Meet a 25-year-old man in Bastar who saw a television for the first time in his life. There were no schools, hospitals, anganwadis, electricity, or roads (due to Naxalism). Work has only recently been started to provide these facilities in remote villages."
He added that while questioning the government is important, "it's better to understand the things before speaking. It's not appropriate to speak based on hearsay".
Reiterating that Maoism can never be justified, Sharma said, "If a government is formed out of the barrel of a gun, it will speak only through guns. Such a system should never exist. Protecting democracy and running the country according to the Constitution is our foremost duty."
He warned the protesters to reflect on history, referencing events, namely, the Tiananmen Square tragedy in China and Mao's Cultural Revolution.
"Look at how the Cultural Revolution spilt blood and how many lives were lost during the Long March. Both Lenin and Mao formed governments, but the outcome was authoritarianism. Such governments crush everything. Democracy cease to exist," he added.
Also read: Chhattisgarh DCM meets surrendered Naxalites at rehab centre
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