Nobody had ever dared to speak against Naxals openly in this village,tucked perilously close to the so-called Maoist liberated zone of Abujmad. Even police fear to tread freely,especially after 17 policemen were killed in an ambush in 2009. If that is anything to go by,then K Madhukar Raos spirited call to the villagers to shun Naxals could be seen as a brave act. Of course,a heavy security blanket had been thrown all around by police,but the man,who had started a massive Salwa Judum campaign against Naxals in Chhattisgarhs Bastar in 2005,and has seen it gasping over the past two years,has survived many attempts on his life. Rao has taken a fresh guard to launch Dandakaranya Shanti Sangharsh Samiti,with non-violent opposition of Naxals as its motto. When he entered Maharashtra on Sunday along with 100 of his men,nobody was expecting 600-odd locals to sit through a three-hour-long meeting. Dont listen to Naxals and dont listen to government. Just listen to yourself. How long will you continue to be sandwiched between the two? You decide,dont let others,especially the Naxals,decide what is best for you. Dont you want development.? he asked. Asked if this was Salwa Judum by another name,he said,Salwa Judum was much-maligned. It never was a violent movement. Politicians from all parties used it,tried to appropriate it and then dumped it. Rao tried to cash in on the goodwill Malu Kopa Bogami,a popular Bhamragarh Congress leader who was killed by the Naxals in 2002,commanded among tribals to highlight what he called class divide in Maoist ranks. They (leaders from Andhra) dont want you to grow beyond a certain point, said Raos aide,Chinna Ramgota. Rao and his aides say tribal cadres are have-nots among Maoists,top rung of which is always dominated by Andhra leaders. Their only motto is you (tribals) kill and you die,while they remain safe in their hideouts, Rao said.
