Sudhakar Reddy writes to Raman Singh
New Delhi. COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA, General Secretary S. Sudhakar Reddy has written a letter to Dr. Raman singh Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh. Com. Reddy expressed his deep anxiety at the false charges that the Chhattisgarh police is drumming up against a visiting delegation comprised of CPI and CPM members, and professors from Delhi University and JNU.
Full text of the letter is as follows -
New Delhi
May 25, 2016
Shri Dr. Raman Singh
Hon’ble Chief Minister,
Government of Chhattisgarh,
Chief Minister’s Secretariat,
D.K.S. Bhavan, Mantralaya,
Raipur, Chhattisgarh - 492001
Dear Shri Raman Singh ji
I am writing to express my deep anxiety at the false charges that the Chhattisgarh police is drumming up against a visiting delegation comprised of CPI and CPM members, and professors from Delhi University and JNU.
A delegation comprising of Vineet Tiwari, Joshi-Adhikari Institute, CPI member, New Delhi, Sanjay Parate, Chhattisgarh State Secretary CPI-M, Archana Prasad, Professor Jawaharlal Nehru University and CC member AIDWA, and Nandini Sundar, Professor, Delhi University who does not belong to any political party visited Bastar Division from 12 to 16 May 2016. The focus of the visit was to study on the situation of ordinary villagers who are living through the conflict between the state and Maoists.
The group visited Nama and KumaKoleng villages on May 15 and interacted with the villagers, who complained of harassment by both Maoists and police. The group in its press release has faithfully reported whatever the villagers said, including criticism of the Maoists. (Copy of the press release attached).
However, the Chhattisgarh police are falsely claiming that the delegation instigated villagers against police and threatened them into supporting Maoists. They have produced what is self-evidently a fake complaint in the names of the villagers, and also organized rallies with Samajik Ekta Manch type vigilantes in front of the Darbha Thana demanding that an FIR be registered against the group. Is it believable that some professors come from Delhi and threaten people in Bastar to join Naxals? Why should people be afraid of somebody who come for few hours discuss with them and go? This is apparently looks like a cock and bull story.
It seems that District Collector of Bastar, Mr. Amit Kataria, posted the so-called complaint of the villagers on his Facebook without verification – is it the practice to post all unverified complaints received as part of his official work on his Facebook? This is highly irresponsible behavior for a collector, and is part of an effort to whip up hysteria against JNU and researchers in general.
The police have also been cross-questioning all those who interacted with the team, including the driver of the hired vehicle, in order to intimidate them.
It looks that the whole affair is part of ongoing intimidatory tactics that the Bastar police, especially the IGP Mr. SRP Kalluri have been employing against journalists, researchers, lawyers and others, to prevent them from visiting Bastar and reporting on violations of human rights.
The understanding that all those, who are not with police, are pro-Naxalites is utter nonsense. Why are the police so touchy about anybody visiting Bastar and enquiring about the atrocities of police and Naxalites over there? Why should people believe only police version? Chhattisgarh is a part of India.
More than 4 journalists are arrested and kept in jail. All the journalist unions all over India are agitating on it. Two innocent tribal boys were killed by police while they were taking bath in the river. There is a feeling of police raj. It will tarnish the image of Chhattisgarh in India and abroad.
The CPI has been working in Bastar since many years, and our party members are under severe pressure from the Maoists and the police both. We have complained to you in the past about this. In a Democracy, the law should not be used to harass political opponents.
CPI and CPI (M) ideologically, politically differ with Naxalites. Our leaders and cadre are attacked by Naxals and killed in many places. There are some police officers, who does not understand the difference between CPI, CPI (M) and Naxals. Surely we are against killing innocents in the name of Naxalites. We fight against naxals ideology. But we also fight against police atrocities and cold blooded murders. This is irritating some police officers. Police is only a department that looks after Law and Order. They should not guide government policies. They can only advice. Unlimited power will cause damage to democratic society.
I trust that you will rein in your administration and police and instruct them not to harass and falsely implicate our party members and independent researchers, journalists and others.
Yours sincerely
(Sudhakar Reddy)
Former Member, Lok Sabha
General Secretary, CPI

Hastakshep