Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has publicly crossed swords with Union home minister P. Chidambaram on his anti-Maoist strategy. Excerpts from an interview:
The Centre and states have not exactly seen eye to eye on the Maoist issue?
The Centre must go beyond giving advice or sending central forces—they should provide intelligence and resources for development. We’re doing what we can with our limited resources. We’ve been pleading for a saturation of quality development, for roads, schools, health centres. In a federal structure, there must be mutual respect between the two, with the Centre as facilitator.
Chidambaram has created the impression that some states are not cooperating with the Centre. A fuss was made because I didn’t attend the Calcutta meeting (called by PC) earlier this year. We were in Delhi, it could’ve been held there. As CM, I have many responsibilities. I can’t remain engaged in one job. Once overall policy is declared, states can coordinate on inter-state operations without supervision.
How should the Maoist problem be tackled?
All disadvantaged sections must get their rightful share. They have to feel they are at an advantage by being part of the democratic process, which in turn will create the right atmosphere for police operations. The Maoists can’t be finished off through force alone. When governments fail to deliver, all kinds of forces spring up. The political executive is different from the bureaucracy or the police. The CM can’t be the head of the police force. He should give policy directions, not micro-manage police operations.
Do you agree with those who say the Maoists are criminals?
I don’t. Without ideological motivation at the higher levels, you can’t have such a movement. The lower levels may be different though. All kinds of political views exist in a democracy. Maoists want power through violence. I disagree with that as I believe change through violence will be unstable.
One argument against development in Maoist-affected areas is that they destroy government-built facilities.
If those in power settle on the course of inaction, the people will blow up their kursi. Every year, there are floods but do we stop repairing what’s destroyed because there may be another flood? We must deal with problems as they arise, not stand back and do nothing. Democracy through inclusive growth can only happen after a long struggle.
