Nagpur, May 28: “Heavily-armed Maoists had ambushed a convoy of Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district, killing 27 peopleincluding Congress leader Mahendra Karma, PCC chief Nand Kumar Patel, his son Dinesh and ex-MLA Uday Mudliyar and injuring 32 others, including former Union minister VC Shukla.
The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI),representing more than 14 million people in our country, condemn this ambush leading to loss of precious lives. We convey our grief andcondolences to the families of those who have lost their lives and our sincere wishes for a speedy recovery for those who are injured in the attacks, said the executive secretary of the NCCI.
The NICC is greatly concerned about the lives of the innocent adivasi people who are being tortured, jailed and killed by Security forces and Maoists alike in the State of Chhattisgarh. We believe and strongly affirm that their lives are as precious and important as of those in power and leadership. In the continuing conflict in Chhattisgarh, both the Sate and the Maoists claim to represent the interests and work for Adivasis, but their stance and means has only alienated them and perpetrated injustice against them. The rights and dignity of the Adivasis are being violated resulting in their exodus and many being in jail onfalse charges.
A case in point is Ms. SoniSori of the adivasi teacher, LingaramKodopi and many others who are braving brutality as a result of the war fuelled by both, the state and the Maoists. In the same Durma valley where the attacks by Maoists killed Congress leaders on Saturday night, the state administration had violated all the existing laws and procedures in order to facilitate land grab for Tata Steel.
The NCCI alleged that state sponsored outfit SalwaJudum, anarmed Sena of the young and adolescents worsened the scenario in the State. It has been termed as ‘illegal’ and ordered to be disbanded by the Supreme Court, but the State government responded contrariwise by making them part of the regular police. Even, as SalwaJudum burnt houses, raped women, maimed and killed adivasis, the State supported it and failed to provide justice to adivasis and continued to brand them as ‘Maoists and their supporters’.
Even as the politicians across the political spectrum are terming this ambush as an attack on democracy, at this juncture, the National Council of Churches in India calls upon the democratically elected government in Chhattisgarh and at the Centre to intervene for Peace and Justice through proper democratic means to protect the lives and rights of its common citizens.
From the NCCI request the State and Central Government to not justify the “Operation Green Hunt” as a means to curb violence and to not proceed with further militarization in the region as that will only make the lives of Adivasis more difficult. Said Dr.Hrangthan Chhungi Executive Secretary, Commission on Adivasis and Tribals, National Council of Churches in India.(SP News)
