Outgoing Advisor to the Governor Madhukar Gupta spoke to The Pioneer about a zero-telerance approach to the Maoists and several civic and political issues.
How should the Naxals be dealt withIJ Effectiveness in purpose is a must, no two ways about it. They are against the entire constitutional and democratic system and have no ideology. Tribal populations whose cause they claim to champion are the worst victims. They don’t want development to percolate to tribal populations and jungles or their hideouts will be busted. So what makes them tribal sympathisersIJ
They will come to the mainstream if they are ensured of a renaissance here. This cannot happen unless you create a situation of security. That is the area we have focused on. I think there has been very good coordination between Central and State security forces. Efforts will go on in this direction without wavering.
Time and again there are talks of dialogue. But what and why should we negotiateIJ If somebody says they don’t believe in democracy and the Constitution, on what basis do you deal with himIJ We have to have a completely unambiguous approach — one that has been followed and will be.
What are the other burning issuesIJ Allocation of land to industries and institutions has remained a huge problem. land acquisition for industries, educational institutions is a problem. The Government needs to see how it should be.
I personally feel many of the provisions meant for benefit of the tribal community may not necessarily be benefitting the people. Some others are trying to exploit that and benefits that tribals could have gained legitimately through protection might not be reaching them.
We are undergoing evolution and urbanisation. On one hand, you talk of a master plan. But this depends on land use. We have to think how, without compromising on the protection and benefit of the community for whose benefit these laws have been made, we can bring them in line of growth, development and the evolutionary process.
How do you find the local politicians’ visionIJ I am not in a position to make any comment about that. I think not only in Jharkhand, but everywhere, there is an increasing public demand for good, clean governance and development. Everybody will have to respond to that. There are issues of instability because of some inherent reasons. But I think this will have to become the focus of the political agenda — governance and development.