U-turn: Naxals back clean drive

Bhopal: Sensing brewing revolt among local tribals for issuing a diktat not to support the government-sponsored Swachchh Bharat Mission programme, Maoists have reviewed their decision, giving consent to people in remote Bastar in Chhattisgarh to avail benefit of the scheme.

Maoist leaflets and pamphlets have been spotted in interior Bastar, where the rebel’s diktat runs, declaring that they would not resist the people from building toilets with government assistance under the programme, a senior police officer posted in Bastar told this newspaper on Friday.

“Maoists have been circulating leaflets and pamphlets in remote Bastar exhorting the people to take benefit of Swachchh Bharat Mission scheme to build toilets in their houses with government assistance”, the police officer said.

The Maoist leaflets have been found in villages of Poni Dobri, Markanar, Alparas, Kagbaras, Duta, Gundul, Morro and Guddbeda in north Bastar district of Kanker, the counter-insurgency officer said.

“Maoists usually oppose government schemes fearing that people in their stronghold would develop inclination for the administration, resulting in erosion of their base. The reds had earlier convened meetings in villages in interior Bastar asking the local tribals to stay away from Swachchh Bharat Mission programme.

The rebels had also instigated the local tribals in some villages to stage demonstrations opposing the programme.

Later, they felt the tribals, particularly the women folk, are upset with their diktat. Adivisasis in some villages have also decided to rise in revolt against the Naxals for denying them to avail government assistance to build toilets in their homes.

Hence, they decided to withdraw their diktat in this regard”, the police officer quoting the intelligence reports said.