Arundhati says Indian Congress is two-faced on Maoists

CNN-IBN

Mumbai: Arundhati Roy has hit out at the Congress saying the party is double-faced on the Maoist issue even as reports gather steam about the possible use of Army against the rebels.

“Army being called against Maoists? This is the militarisation of democracy. We should all be aware that within the Congress there is a division of labour. Rahul and Sonia Gandhi are the good guys, and Manmohan Singh and P Chidambaram are bad guys. But there is consensus beneath all this. The government’s strategy is if you can’t wipe them out then buy them out,” Arundhati said at a press gathering organised by Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights (CPDR) in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Defence Minister AK Antony had a 90 minute meeting with the three defence chiefs about the use of armed forces against Maoists on Tuesday. But the final decision will be taken by the Union Cabinet. Currently, the Army is training the CRPF personnel on how to tackle the Maoists, while Air Force is helping in logistical operations.

Antony had hinted of a possible use of armed forces at the NDA passing out parade in Khadakvaskla on Monday.

Arundhati had also blamed the government for exposing the tribals to the threat by rebels following the May 17 attack by Maoists on a civilian bus in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh in which at least 41 people including civilians were killed.

She has been leading the movement against the Government’s offensive against Naxals saying that their demands are genuine and the authorities should focus on the grievances of the tribals to solve the problem.

The Booker Prize winner also wants the Government to start peace talks with the rebels, stop Operation Green Hunt and resettle people rendered homeless in the Naxal-infested areas of the country.