Thanks for the Indifference you slothful donkeys. But since I have started, lemme get on with it.
If you have read the part 1 you will know where I am trying to get to. I was trying to stress on the govt.'s "suspiciously determined" effort to eliminate the Naxalites. Assuming you are with me so far, lemme go on.
DANTEWADA is in Chattisghar, the most mineral-rich state in India. Incidentally it is also the most forested state in the country. Almost 50% of the state is forests. And unfortunately, all the mineral-rich sites are in these forests. Like in any forest, here too, there are a few animals, few naxals and many tribal people. These tribals have been living there since eternity. In fact these forests are the ones described as "Dandakaranayam" in the mythological blockbuster RAMAYANA, starring RAMA.
Because these tribals have been living here in the forests for god knows how long, they have adapted to a specific lifestyle. For instance, they like thatched huts more than masonry homes with A/C 's, and instead of doing engineering for livelihood like us, they grow beedi leaves, kill innocent pigs and catch helpless frogs. And obviously, because they know nothing about google or collapsing bridges or communal riots, they cannot survive outside the forest. They don't want to come out in fact. They are happy, living their lives in the forest. They never minded chewing leaves for lunch, killing pigs and occasionally getting raped by forest officers.
But you see, all those tonnes of minerals under their asses are waay too valuable. So, in true spirit of capitalism, a few corporate giants have tried to get hold of this land and approached the Govt.. But there is a twist.
Back in history the Govt.., in its good mood..........has declared these forests as "scheduled areas". What this means is, the Govt.. has recognised that there are tribals living here, and that it has taken up the resposibiity to protect their rights and lively hoods. That means it cant give the forests away for mining, so the Govt. bit its tongue and said FUCK.
Then, the Govt. came up with a plan. They started an NMDC (Govt.. mineral development corp.) to mine Iron ore. They promised tribal people good schools, roads, hospitals, tooth brushes and so on. Because this sort of thing doesn't help ERP's, the news ppl didn't care. And under the cover of NMDC, they managed to relocate some tribals out of the minig areas. But naxals didn't like this because, it made it hard for them to find supplies and chicken curry for dinner. So, as usual, they blew up a few trucks and buildings with some cops in them.
Siting this as an act of "Ravanism", the govt. (BJP at that time) deployed a few CRPF suicide jawans. These jawans, accomplished their mission by driving over a few land mines. And then, because BLOOD and GORE sell as good as SEX, the media jumped in and named these areas naxal infested and that anyone venturing in to these forests would be eaten alive by the naxals. The govt. claimed that, because of the naxals, the tribals are facing inexplicable problems; like not being able to get tooth brushes and deodorants and also that they are not able to grow BEEDI leaves. So it supported the creation of a social group called SALWA JUDUM. It was a group of self styled social workers, who were supposed to help relocate the tribals to safer areas and preferably areas with no mineral deposits.
Weather this group was monitored or not no one knows. But they committed some of the most heinous crimes in recent history. The hapless tribals were subjected to mass rapes, torture and all the other acts that come as a package. There are cases of children and old people being shot dead on several occassions. The two rivers that flow through these areas are the most polluted rivers in the world. The local people call one of the rivers LAAL PANI, do I have to mention its undrinkable? There was a news a few years ago that most wells have gone dry.
And why are these jungle people subjected to such injustice? Because they have been living in the worng neighborhood. While they are present, mining cant take place. Money cant be made. And this glorious nation of our's is no place to seek human rights.
The recent Dantewada attack is a continuation of the blood curdling govt. backed conspiracy. The scheduled areas in dantewada have been awarded to several corporate giants like ESSAR steels for mining. ESSAR, interestingly is a former employer of our hnble HM Cidambaram lungivala. The same man who is hellbent to eliminate naxals by bombing their asses using fighter jets. Essar by the was is an interesting company. It only started in the 70's as a construction company. But today its turnover is 15 bill. usd a year. It is the LARGEST EXPORTER OF IRON ORE in the country......little surprise huh! And here is a story for you to think about: A few months ago villagers who have given away lands to ESSAR for mining, have been shot dead. And the bullets used were from service rifles. Dont get to any conclusions soon said the news paper, because naxals usually use stolen service rifles. Well its up to your discretion.
What you make out of this story is irrelevent to me. I wrote this because, a few weeks ago, I read an article in The Hindu, written by an MBA grad from IIM. He says that, he was truly honored to have been offered a job in ESSAR, a company which embodies the India of tomorrow. It made me cry.
If you have read the part 1 you will know where I am trying to get to. I was trying to stress on the govt.'s "suspiciously determined" effort to eliminate the Naxalites. Assuming you are with me so far, lemme go on.
DANTEWADA is in Chattisghar, the most mineral-rich state in India. Incidentally it is also the most forested state in the country. Almost 50% of the state is forests. And unfortunately, all the mineral-rich sites are in these forests. Like in any forest, here too, there are a few animals, few naxals and many tribal people. These tribals have been living there since eternity. In fact these forests are the ones described as "Dandakaranayam" in the mythological blockbuster RAMAYANA, starring RAMA.
Because these tribals have been living here in the forests for god knows how long, they have adapted to a specific lifestyle. For instance, they like thatched huts more than masonry homes with A/C 's, and instead of doing engineering for livelihood like us, they grow beedi leaves, kill innocent pigs and catch helpless frogs. And obviously, because they know nothing about google or collapsing bridges or communal riots, they cannot survive outside the forest. They don't want to come out in fact. They are happy, living their lives in the forest. They never minded chewing leaves for lunch, killing pigs and occasionally getting raped by forest officers.
But you see, all those tonnes of minerals under their asses are waay too valuable. So, in true spirit of capitalism, a few corporate giants have tried to get hold of this land and approached the Govt.. But there is a twist.
Back in history the Govt.., in its good mood..........has declared these forests as "scheduled areas". What this means is, the Govt.. has recognised that there are tribals living here, and that it has taken up the resposibiity to protect their rights and lively hoods. That means it cant give the forests away for mining, so the Govt. bit its tongue and said FUCK.
Then, the Govt. came up with a plan. They started an NMDC (Govt.. mineral development corp.) to mine Iron ore. They promised tribal people good schools, roads, hospitals, tooth brushes and so on. Because this sort of thing doesn't help ERP's, the news ppl didn't care. And under the cover of NMDC, they managed to relocate some tribals out of the minig areas. But naxals didn't like this because, it made it hard for them to find supplies and chicken curry for dinner. So, as usual, they blew up a few trucks and buildings with some cops in them.
Siting this as an act of "Ravanism", the govt. (BJP at that time) deployed a few CRPF suicide jawans. These jawans, accomplished their mission by driving over a few land mines. And then, because BLOOD and GORE sell as good as SEX, the media jumped in and named these areas naxal infested and that anyone venturing in to these forests would be eaten alive by the naxals. The govt. claimed that, because of the naxals, the tribals are facing inexplicable problems; like not being able to get tooth brushes and deodorants and also that they are not able to grow BEEDI leaves. So it supported the creation of a social group called SALWA JUDUM. It was a group of self styled social workers, who were supposed to help relocate the tribals to safer areas and preferably areas with no mineral deposits.
Weather this group was monitored or not no one knows. But they committed some of the most heinous crimes in recent history. The hapless tribals were subjected to mass rapes, torture and all the other acts that come as a package. There are cases of children and old people being shot dead on several occassions. The two rivers that flow through these areas are the most polluted rivers in the world. The local people call one of the rivers LAAL PANI, do I have to mention its undrinkable? There was a news a few years ago that most wells have gone dry.
And why are these jungle people subjected to such injustice? Because they have been living in the worng neighborhood. While they are present, mining cant take place. Money cant be made. And this glorious nation of our's is no place to seek human rights.
The recent Dantewada attack is a continuation of the blood curdling govt. backed conspiracy. The scheduled areas in dantewada have been awarded to several corporate giants like ESSAR steels for mining. ESSAR, interestingly is a former employer of our hnble HM Cidambaram lungivala. The same man who is hellbent to eliminate naxals by bombing their asses using fighter jets. Essar by the was is an interesting company. It only started in the 70's as a construction company. But today its turnover is 15 bill. usd a year. It is the LARGEST EXPORTER OF IRON ORE in the country......little surprise huh! And here is a story for you to think about: A few months ago villagers who have given away lands to ESSAR for mining, have been shot dead. And the bullets used were from service rifles. Dont get to any conclusions soon said the news paper, because naxals usually use stolen service rifles. Well its up to your discretion.
What you make out of this story is irrelevent to me. I wrote this because, a few weeks ago, I read an article in The Hindu, written by an MBA grad from IIM. He says that, he was truly honored to have been offered a job in ESSAR, a company which embodies the India of tomorrow. It made me cry.
