LIMITING A MANDATE
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editricon LIMITING A MANDATE

Following Dantewada II with loss of lives of civilians together with Policemen in an attack by Maoists, Home Minister spoke about the need to get an expanded mandate from CCPA which earlier gave him a limited mandate. This has created a fracas in the ruling dispensation with the Opposition charging the UPA government of inherent contradictions within the Cabinet. What the Home Minister meant was a result of his frustration against his wish list of using Army and air power to fight the Maoists. The ruling BJP Government in Chattisgarh felt that the Maoists need to be fought militarily without offer for talks. Their earlier experiment of arming civilians under Salwa Judum was an unmitigated disaster. Civil right activists like Dr. Patnaik, Arundati Roy believe that Government should engage them in talks. The Home Minister offered talks and his Secretary G K Pillai wanted them to lay down arms. The Maoists outrightly rejected the conditionalities. Even then people like Arundati roy blames the Policemen for having boarded a Bus with civilians. Probably it is time we confer these human right activists the title of colonel as we did to Mohanlal and Kapil Dev and ask them to lead a battalion against these Maoists. 

Digvijay Singh who in an earlier snub against the Home Minister calling him intellectually arrogant, said that those who want to use air power against Maoists do not know the terrains of Chattisgarh. Some others feel we should not use our own army against our own people. But I see a sinister conspiracy to sideline the honourable Home Minister who is an upright, honest and efficient Minister but for his frequent faux passes. It is claimed and is probably true also, his announcement to the media that the process of statehood to Telengana is on, opened up a valconic eruption of violence.But the Minister needs to be given an opportunity to see if he is able to fulfill his commitment to end this Maoist menace. Why not give him a broader mandate? Will the Prime Minister heed to this plea?

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