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Author: Vivek Deshpande
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: May 14, 2007
Introduction: Tribal ranks feel left out in the race; non-tribals from Andhra cornering top jobs
Class feuds are on the rise in the Naxal ranks, according to information revealed during the interrogation of the Left wing ultras arrested recently in Nagpur.
"We have learnt from the interrogations that the feuds have been simmering among Naxal ranks over the fact that while the ground-level fighters have been local tribals, top-level functionaries like State or Divisional Committee secretaries have always been non-tribals and the former haven't been able to rise up to the latter's ranks or to the level of divisional secretary," police sources said.
"That perhaps explains the indiscipline
behaviour of local tribal commanders like Suresh Harami," they said.
Confirming the feud, an ex-official who has worked in Gadchiroli for a few
years, said: "Suresh has, in a sense, put the top Naxal leadership on
notice by sending feelers to the police for a possible surrender, which, though,
he has refrained from doing as yet."
Suresh, incidentally, is the only local tribal in the seven-member the North Gadchiroli-Gondia Divisional Committee (NG-GDC). Most others are non-tribals, mainly the Reddys, from Andhra Pradesh.
Suresh, it is gathered, is unhappy about his not being made the NGGDC secretary despite having worked in the area for about 20-25 years. The top Naxal leadership can't chuck him out too, for it would only confirm the perception of class feuds in the organisation.
"Most of the top leaders in Naxal ranks belong to higher castes. When it comes to tribals, they are found short of desired intellectual and leadership capabilities to get there," sources added. "Of course, many of the tribals have started becoming Dalam commanders of late."
"The Maharashtra State Committee, which controls NGGDC and Gujarat, comprises only three functionaries, all non-tribals. Even the NGGDC has always been led by leaders imported from Andhra Pradesh. Murali, arrested from Deekshabhoomi here recently, his predecessor Madanlal, arrested in Nagpur a couple of years ago, are the cases in point.
Incidentally, the NGGDC was formed in 2001 with first divisional secretary being Madanlal. The state committee, however, wasn't too satisfied with Madanlal's work as leader and had subsequently replaced him with Murali.
Murali, however, was never made a member of the state committee like Madanlal, for reasons perceived by investigators as "non-fulfillment of top leadership's expectations." "That is perceived by the top leadership as another gray area in the progress of Naxalite activities in the region," they said.
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