Urging states to make tribals “primary beneficiaries of the development process” as governments counter the Maoist “cult of violence”, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today questioned Maoist sympathisers, saying “those who claim to speak for the tribals” have not offered any “alternate economic or social path that is viable”.

Addressing a conference of Chief Ministers and state ministers for tribal affairs, Singh admitted to “systemic failure in giving tribals a stake in modern economic processes that inexorably intrude into their living spaces” and said the “alienation built over decades” was “now taking a dangerous turn in some parts of our country”.

“Systematic exploitation and social and economic abuse of our tribal communities can no longer be tolerated... But the fact is that no sustained activity is possible under the shadow of the gun. Nor have those who claim to speak for the tribals offered an alternate economic or social path that is viable. The cult of violence will only bring greater misery to the common people. We have to counter this threat with determination.”

“While violence cannot be tolerated, tribals must be primary beneficiaries of the development process. We have to win the battle for their hearts and their mouths,” Singh told the state ministers.

“Over the years, a large number of cases have been registered against the tribals, giving rise to a good deal of harassment to those whose traditional rights were not recognised by earlier forest laws. The heavy hand of the criminal justice system has become a source of harassment and exploitation.

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