Naxalism is political terrorism, says Karma

Raipur, July 24 (UNI) Communist Party of India (Maoist) has deviated from its ideological path and naxalism has now turned into a terrorist movement, Leader of the opposition in the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha Mahendra Karma said today.

''Naxalism is nothing but political terrorism,'' he said, while participating in the debate on an opposition-sponsored adjournment motion on killing of innocent tribals by the naxals at Errabore relief camp in the South Bastar, on the intervening night of July 16 and 17.

Speaker Prem Prakash Pandey had admitted for discussion on an adjournment motion, moved by Mr Karma and 15 others, on the situation in naxalite-infested South Bastar where 31 people were killed in one of the worst ever naxalite attack.

Referring to the ongoing 'Salwa Judum' -- the peoples' campaign against naxals in Bastar -- Mr Karma criticised state home minister Ram Vichar Netam for his reported statement after the attack that the campaign against Maoists would be reviewed.

''I don't understand why the minister has issued such a statement in a haste,'' he asked, adding that any effort to stop the peoples' movement against the rebels would tantamount to surrender before the Maoists.

Describing naxalism as a form of political terrorism, Mr Karma said it was also a threat to democracy and parliamentary system.

''The rebels called themselves Peoples' War. Now they are waging a war against the people, killing innocent and poor people,'' he added.

Stating that it was the responsibility of the state to provide adequate security to the people, the opposition leader said it had always been the Maoist strategy to keep the security forces engaged in firing so that another group of rebels could carry out their attack on their targets.

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