Naxalites' shut downs affect poor people the most

Raipur (Chhattisgarh), July 22 (ANI): Naxalite groups have been known for using various tactics to assert their domination all around. On various occasions, they give a public all for a close down or general strike to affect all activities across the State. But they are simply unconcerned with the hardship the ordinary people have to face due to bandh.

A call for general strike was given by Naxalites recently in Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Andhra Pradesh in protest of the action being taken against the Maoists in West Bengal's Lalgarh area by security forces along with local police.

"It feels scary to drive trucks during the Bandh. If we are found driving during Bandh, the lorries are burnt by strikers. It gets very difficult to find out food anywhere and also feels dangerous being in the open," said Subash, a lorry driver.

The most affected due to these Bandhs are the daily wagers and their families who struggle to arrange their two square meals. It looks the Naxalites completely never ponder over such concerns related to ordinary people including women, children, and the elderly.

In an attempt to serve their selfish purposes and also establish their dominance or influence in urban areas, the Naxalites use such measures to affect general public.

It is yet to be seen how much they succeed in presenting themselves to be working for the rights of the 'helpless' or underdogs with such methods, as it is the ordinary people who suffer the most.

"We want the people to remember that violence has no place in democracy. We want the administration or the Govt. should reach the ordinary man through public awareness," said Nankiram Kanwar, State Home Minister of Chhattisgarh.

The local shopkeepers, traders and business centres also suffer badly due to shut downs declared off and on by the Naxalites here.

Local residents and traders rue the fact that these Naxalites groups threaten shut down to charge money from them. But none of them ever bothers how many people would suffer because of their actions.

But many people here have made their mind to not strengthen the naxalites by giving in to their unjustified demands. The most affected people are often the poor daily wagers. But will the Naxalites ever understand? (ANI)