Cong in a fix over backing Salwa Judum

Former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi and his supporters have been pressing since long for the party’s total disassociation with the present form of Salwa Judum, pointing out that the movement has resulted in killing of innocent tribals and large-scale displacement, badly affecting the socio-economic conditions of South Bastar region in the past three years.

However, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Mahendra Karma, who represents the Naxalite-infested Dantewada, is in the forefront of Salwa Judum movement, which began in June 2005 to motivate the people to keep themselves aloof from the rebels and to isolate the Naxalites in the region.

The BJP Government also extended its tacit support to the Salwa Judum, terming it as a spontaneous movement by the local tribals against more than three decades old problem of violence and bloodshed in Bastar.

Jogi and many legislators feel that supporting Salwa Judum, in its present form, would be against the larger interests of tribals, while the Karma faction wants the party to pledge its continued support, arguing that the movement per se was against Naxalism. The issue figured at the state Congress Coordination Committee meeting, which discussed the poll strategy for the next Assembly elections here on Tuesday, but the leaders could not arrive at a consensus. As many views emerged at the meeting, it was decided that AICC general secretary V Narayanasamy, in-charge of state party affairs, would discuss the matter with Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

“The Congress’s policy has always been against terrorism and Naxalism. We had discussions at length over Salwa Judum,” confirmed Narayan-samy, Union Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs, after the meeting.

“The issue of Salwa Judum had also come up before the Supreme Court. We have to keep in mind the directions of the apex court,” he said, adding that it would be discussed again at the next meeting, so as to take a view on it.

Chhattisgarh PCC president Dhanendra Sahu refused to comment on the issue saying that it was for the coordination committee and the party high command to take a decision on it. “There may be many views, but once we take a decision, all partymen will stand by it,” he added.