Ramesh asks people to defeat 'jungle sarkar'

RACHI, LOHRARDAGA: Admitting failure of the government in bringing development to rural areas after more than six decades of Independence, Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said the failure, however, did not mean that someone would pick up gun for solution.
But the government does not intend to reply bullet with bullet, Ramesh said on his maiden visit here to review central schemes."We want to solve the problem of Naxalism through dialogues for which the government door is always open."
He claimed that the Naxalites were misguiding the tribals in the name of development and asked people to be careful. "The Maoists are misleading the tribal community saying that their ideology favours the tribal welfare. It is not more than a mask which the Maoists have covered their face to convince tribal people in their favour," said the minister.
Ramesh addressed a gathering of about 200 women from 11 self-help groups (SHGs) those have set an example of women empowerment through mango orchards. Appreciating their efforts to transform their socio-economic lives, he said the central government wished to start many new programmes for their children. But the government needs their support to win the psychological war against the rebels. He urged the youths to leave the way of bullet and join the mainstream to lead a democratic fight for social justice.
"I want to visit states like Jharkhand and Odisha time and again to develop these states where two governments rule - one is a democratic government elected by the people and the other is a 'jungle sarkar' (Maoists) that spreads terror and snatches people's peace in living. I feel the loss in the fight between two governments. If the women SHGs like that of Hirahi village in Lohardaga support the government, the 'jungle sarkar' can be ended soon," said Ramesh.