Protesting the “anti-people policies” of the Central Government and visit of US President Barrack Obama to India to attend the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, the Maoists have decided to observe January 26, the Republic Day, as a “Black Day” in five south Odisha districts.In an audio release to the media on Thursday night, top Maoist leader and secretary of Bansadhara-Ghumusar-Nagavali Divisional Committee Umakant said farmers of the country are unable to spend Rs 20 per day, and unable to repay their loans, they are forced to commit suicide.
“The Centre has not taken any steps to overcome the unemployment problem. There are around 50 crore unemployed youths in the country. Besides, the Centre has not thought of the future of the nearly 10 crore of child labourers who are working as migrant and bonded labourers,” he said.
Referring to the law and order situation, he said a woman in India is either subject to atrocity or rape every half-an-hour. Slamming the double standards of the Centre and the State Government, Umakant said that contrary to the announcement of a pro-tribal policy, the tribals have been deprived of their rights on land, forest and water that have been handed over to the multinational companies (MNCs).
“Besides, the Odisha police, in their anti-Maoist operation in association with the Central paramilitary forces, has been torturing innocent tribals by branding them as Maoists and Maoist sympathizers,” he said. He also alleged that the Narendra Modi Government, which has come to power by assuring the people of bringing back black money stashed abroad, has now gone back on its promise and is working for the MNCs.
On Obama’s visit, he said the US Government, in the name of waging war against the extremists, has been killing thousands of innocent civilians all over the world to accomplish its goal of imperialism. “We strongly condemn the visit of the US President and have decided to observe the Republic Day as Black Day in Rayagada, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal and Kalahandi districts,” Umakant said.