'It's like supporting Rajan to defeat Dawood'

Intellectuals slam state's support to anti-Naxal militia Salwa Judum

Eminent speakers met last evening at the National Gallery for Modern Art in Kala Ghoda for a panel discussion organised by the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Gateway House, Citizens for Peace and Tata Institute of Social Sciences to discuss issues surrounding the Naxalite movement.

Dr Nandini Sundar, a researcher whose work focuses on the ill-treatment of adivasis by the SPOs, said the government backing Salwa Judum, a state-run militia, was like "Supporting Chhota Rajan to defeat Dawood."





Himanshu Kumar of the Vanvasi Chetana Asharam, a group that works in Naxal-affected areas, said, "The Naxals are killing tribals, as is the Salwa Judum, which is setting villages on fire and raping women. The government does not care."

Ajit Ranade of the Aditya Birla group said, "The Naxal presence makes it difficult for Indian industries to use resources like bauxite and iron ore from the tribal areas," said Ranade.