History is replete with examples of people who were convicted for having had a questioning spirit and nurturing even peaceful non-conformist thoughts.
The recent spree of arrests by the Indian government is a stark reminded that such prosecutions are still very prevalent.
What is wrong with the government’s approach?
Anybody raising strong questions against the government is being perceived as an urban naxal, which is a very serious malice.
This kind of approach might help the government curtail some dissenting voices, but will further the cause of the real naxals.
Notably, violent dissent and insurgents also thrive on the psycological front, which will be greatly aided by governemnt’s stringent actions.
In this context, many Left-leaning activists have been wrongly linked with Naxals, while most of them are an anathema to the insurgents.
Even our PM Modi equated Arvind Kejriwal with Naxals in 2015, which even though just a rhetoric, was a jarring error in political terms.
Naxals also opposed CPI leaders in Bastar — which eventually helped the BJP candidates win in the region.
How could insurgents gain from the government’s approach?
First - It perpetuates a myth about their spread and might, something that is essential for an underground warrior.
Notably, an insurgency is as much a reality as it is the product of myths that society weaves around the insurgent.
Second - If students, politicians and writers across the spectrum are hounded as Urban Naxals, one need not be a psychoanalyst to gauge its consequences.
The definitions a state invents for its political harvest come to ring true in unintended ways, and even drive people into the rebel ranks.
What is the way ahead?
To paint overt and peaceful political rebellions as Naxalism is bad tactic, a political and moral blunder, which the government should avoid.
Rather, the government should focus on curtailing the propaganda of the real Maoists in rural pockets of central Indian.
Take up genuine counter campaigns and outreach programs are the best way to ideologically defeat the leftist insurgency.
Currently, there is a lacklustre attitude to act against programs organised by banned outfits in remote areas, which is self defeating.
