Prevent kidnap and blackmail becoming a standard Maoist tactic

The reported move by the Orissa government to release a number of Maoists and their supporters in exchange for two hostages — an Italian national and a member of the legislative assembly — might lead to the Maoists adding kidnapping to their repertoire of hostilities.

The issue really is whether the state wants to project a ‘hard’ image, and refuses to entertain any demands in a hostage situation, or whether the basic duty of protecting guests and citizens over-rides all other considerations. What the state government should do is crack down even harder on these brigands once the hostages are swapped so that the situation doesn’t repeat itself.

Reports indicate the Maoists in these areas are desperate to stop the steady march of the security forces. But that crackdown must in no way be mistaken as the full measure of state response against the Maoists. The greater challenge the Maoists pose is political — of claiming to represent and fight for the marginalised and against a process of development they claim is exploitative.

The point is not that the Maoists cynically use that plank to unleash mayhem, and keep the poor and the tribals in their thrall. Rather, that the state response must be to overturn that notion of development. Development must be envisaged and clearly manifest itself as an inclusive project, where the people whose lives and livelihoods are affected by a plan or policy are seen as, and treated like, stakeholders.

The notion that the people are against development is a canard and plainly idiotic. Problems arise when they feel things like land acquisition or compensation are opaque, even hostile, processes. No one would object to a process that delivers real and tangible benefits to their lives. And as development shows itself to be inclusive and progressive, those who seek to make political capital out of opposition to it will be negated.

This is what must happen in Orissa and elsewhere. Security operations against the Maoists are necessary, their military threat and stated purpose of violently overthrowing the state must be defeated. But these operations are only one, instrumental aspect of dealing with Maoism.