Statement of Chief Minister Hemant Soren stressing on development just few days after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's refusal to enter into any dialogue process with banned Maoist organisations and indications to use force against them tells the tale of compulsions politicians in Jharkhand live with. When facts related to unholy nexus between the two are on the table bringing issue of underdevelopment as the sheer reason behind all the smut is hard to believe for many.
The feeling about the 'untold understanding' has in fact crept in the police department, especially with the district administration functional in heavily naxal infested areas of the State. "We have seen two FIRs being filled during the lok Sabha polls against Ainosh Ekka for taking shelter of banned PlFI and securing votes in his favour. We are still investigating the case. But I can say that in these areas there are organisations which take support of some kind or the other from the politicians and vice versa," said Khunti SP Anish Gupta.
Officially the police maintain that law is equal for all and action against the politicians would be taken based on the evidence coming out but it hardly happens. "We have known links of several such leaders like Torpa MlA Poulush Surin and the others. But not much can be done in such cases. The banned organisations are flourishing based on the support they get from the leaders only," said another SP of a naxal hit IAP district. A PlFI cadre turned JMM legislator Poulush Surin also admits that politicians active in the several such areas of the State have to remain on the mercy of the banned outfits. "Ye to netaon ki majboori hai (This is helplessness of the politicians). They take their support and also help them in return. If you have to manage a biting dog then you have to throw meat to it," said the Torpa MlA but not forgot to mention his real villain behind the problem which is threatening to derail the democratic processes and system falling in the notorious 'red corridor'.
"Banking on just police actions is nothing but madness. It is unemployment, lack of education, backwardness and exploitation which make a naxal. Still displaced tribal peoples of Jharkhand have not got adequate compensations and are deprived of their rights. I have talked to the Chief Minister and also with former Speaker CP Singh in this regard but no concrete plan seems to be there," said Surin.
Even the CM has last week mentioned that bullets were not the solution of the left-wing violence gripping the State and instead the Government should tackle the issue by starting developmental projects in the affected areas. Similar are the objections of many regional political parties when it comes to start all out battle to wipe them out.
"Mother of all problems is lack of development. Police stress on highhandedness because it brings in lots of fund in the name of modernisation and purchase of arms. There are certain vested interests involved as well. But this also brings devastation to the poor and innocent tribals which has to be taken into consideration," said a senior leader of the JVM.
However the hypothesis gets a rebuttal from State police administration. "Though, worried about safeguarding their respective vote banks and ensuring support coming in from the outlawed they should answer why the development has not taken place in such areas even after so longIJ Who is responsible for lack of planning for such areasIJ And if the cadres are really worried about exploitation of tribal and their resources why they take levy from the corrupt contractors, leaders and illegal miners and let them continue," said an Inspector General rank officer of Jharkhand Police.