‘Like Lord Ram’… Singhdeo’s remark on anti-Maoist crackdown

Raipur: In a striking statement made on Ram Navami, former Chhattisgarh deputy chief minister and Congress veteran T S Singhdeo drew a parallel between Ramayana and the state's ongoing crackdown on Maoists.Speaking to media in Ambikapur on Sunday, Singhdeo said, "Just as Lord Ram sent a peace message to Ravana before taking up arms, the govt too first offered talks to the Naxals. But when dialogue failed, action became necessary."He elaborated that the govt initially sought peaceful negotiations and tried to bring Maoists into the mainstream, but when those efforts were rejected, it had no choice but to respond with force.Almost echoing Union home minister Amit Shah, Singhdeo said: "It's simple — come, join the mainstream and let's discuss the issues. If they don't agree and pick weapons, then the talks will happen with weapons only.""This policy has been followed for hundreds of years. Lord Ram had sent a message of peace to try and encourage Ravana to take the path of righteousness. But when Ravana didn't listen, Ram was compelled to take up weapons. The same is happening now — after multiple failed attempts at peaceful resolution, govt is responding to Maoists with decisive action," he said. His remarks come amid an intensified campaign by Chhattisgarh govt against Maoist insurgency in which over 400 cadres have been shot dead in encounters. His comments come two days after Union home minister Amit Shah's visit to Bastar where he asked Maoists to give up arms and surrender. Besides, state HM Sharma recently rejected a purported Maoist initiative for conditional peace talks and ceasefire.