The wheel seems to have turned a full circle in Junglemahal, with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) openly coming out against the Naxalites in Jhargram on Saturday. The party took out an impressive procession in Junglemahal, condemning the murderous acts perpetrated by the Naxalites. The procession was led by union minister Mukul Roy and Rajya Sabha member Debabrata Bandopadhyay.
This is the first instance TMC has politically confronted the Naxalites in Junglemahal. For the last three years leading to the crucial state assembly elections, the party maintained an ambivalent position vis-à-vis the insurgent Naxalites. TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee was of the view there were no Naxalites in West Bengal; only the CPI (M) was playing the bogey of the Naxalites.
After coming to power, her government took initiatives to start discussions with the Naxalites. There were some indications that a section of the Naxalite leaders were amenable to the idea. The government also kept the joint force under leash and no major offensive was launched after elections. But, a series of violent acts allegedly committed by the Naxalites have caused a major setback to the entire peace initiative.