Activist Swami Agnivesh Sunday demanded that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and Governor Shekhar Dutt be removed from their posts for their failure to provide security to the people of the state.
"The chief minister should be removed as the state government failed to provide security in the state," the activist said while condemning the Maoist attack on a Congress party convoy in Bastar district Saturday.
Agnivesh also demanded that the Chhattisgarh governor be removed as "he proved to be irresponsible".
The social activist appealed to the Maoists to give up violence and join the national mainstream.
"I condemn the incident. I appeal to the Maoists to give up violence and join the national mainstream. Any change can be brought about only through democracy," Agnivesh told IANS.
Stating that it was high time that the government started working on a long-term solution to the problem of Left-wing extremism, he said a high-powered group, including civil society members, should be formed to deal with it.
"A long-term solution is needed. We need to find the root cause of the problem," he said, adding that "we wake up only after a big incident occurs and the forget the issue till it re-occurs".
According to the activist, the central as well as the state governments have neglected the implementation of the Indian constitution in letter and spirit.
Noting that the main reason behind the Maoist problem were socio-economic, he said the government's policy of development along with action to curb the extremism was a flawed one.
"The current policy of dealing with the Maoist problem is a flawed one. All governments have neglected the constitution. They could have at least done some work in the areas where Maoist activity is minimal to show development," the activist said.
Agnivesh, who has earlier negotiated with the Maoists, said what the government considers development is actually seen as destruction by tribals.
--Indo-Asian News service
aag/vr/vt
