Let us declare that the state of war does exist and shall exist so long as the Indian toiling masses and the natural resources are being exploited by a handful of parasites.
– Shaheed Bhagat Singh
The ongoing Operation Kagar, launched in January, 2024 is precisely a war on the Adivasis and mineral resources of Central India. Despite the death of more than 150-200 Maoists and 100-150 innocent Adivasis, mainstream media is not covering the matter diligently. The killing of big Maoist leaders is reported while the deaths of innocent Adivasis are neglected.
The broader economic aspect of Amit Shah’s call of ending Naxalism by March, 2026 is never highlighted. The abundant reserves of minerals in central India attract Adani, Vedanta, Tata, etc. who use state forces to displace Adivasis. We see mining and deforestation already underway in Gadchiroli (Maharashtra) and Raigarh (Chhattisgarh). Bastar is now a heavily militarised zone to facilitate resource loot. While PM Modi claims to fight the climate crisis, the environmental impact of mining and deforestation is overlooked. With unbridled ‘developmental activities’, the government is displacing the real guardians of the forests.
Operation Kagar violates fundamental rights under India’s Constitution (Article 21), international human rights law (Article 3, Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Article 6, ICCPR), and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. These are unconstitutional and undemocratic attacks on the Adivasis that serve only to empower the corporate bosses.
The Maoists are never injured or caught, they are encountered extra-judicially for rewards. Recently, there have been repeated appeals by civil society organisations and Maoists to the Indian government to declare a ceasefire and initiate peace talks. The government has repeatedly rejected them.
Operation Kagar is a part of a fascist war on democracy. The immediate goal is to eliminate Maoists, but the larger goal is to eliminate every kind of resistance to this social order. Recent attacks on democratic activists through false cases and banning of Moolvasi Bachao Manch show that this war is not confined to curbing armed Maoists. Building resistance against Operation Kagar is thus part of our responsibility to save democracy. In this situation we demand the following from the Government of India:
- Immediately halt Operation Kagar
- Immediate ceasefire and unconditional peace talks with CPI (Maoist)
- Independent inquiry into all instances of extrajudicial killings
We urge you to raise your voice against this war on the people of our own soil.
Endorsed by:
- Adivasi Sangharsh Morcha
- All India Lawyers Association for Justice
- All India Students Association
- Ambedkar Reading Circle
- Bhima Sangatanegala Maha Okkutta
- Bhooswadhina Virodhi Horata Samithi (Devanahalli)
- COLLECTIVE
- DSS
- DSS (Ambedkarvada)
- Dalith Tigers
- Domestic Workers Rights Union
- Eddelu Karnataka
- Dr. Ambedkar Dalith Sene Samithi
- Fridays For Future- Karnataka
- Growthwatch
- Indian Social Action Forum (InSAF)
- Karnataka Jana Jagruti Vedike
- Karnataka Janashakthi
- Kannada Planet
- Karnataka Voice of Public
- Karavali Karnataka Janabhivriddhi Vedike
- Karnataka Raitha Sangha (AIUKS)
- Moolnivasigala Dr. Ambedkar Sene
- National Alliance for Justice, Accountability, and Rights
- National Alliance of People’s Movement- Karnataka
- Pragatipara Karnataka Kattada Karmika mattu Eethara Nirmana Union
- People’s Democratic Forum
- People’s Union for Civil Liberties
- Spark Reading Circle
- Students’ Islamic Organisation- Karnataka
- All India Forward Bloc
- Communist Party of India (Marxist)
- Communist Party of India (ML) Liberation
- Thamate Media
- Students for People’s Democracy
Individuals:
- Dr. G. Ramakrishna (Writer)
- Shivasundar (Activist and Columnist)
- Dr. V.P.Niranjanaradhya (Educationist)
- Shripad Bhat (Educationist)
- Dr.Prajval Shastri (Physicist)
- Madhu Bhushan (Activist)
- Dr. Du Saraswati (Theatre artist)
- Dr. Sabeeha Bhumigowda (Academician)
- Vidya Dinkar (Activist)
- Dr. A. S. Prabhakar (Professor)
- Dr. Suvrat Raju (Physicist)
- Ramneek Singh (Playwright)
- Na Divakar (Author)
- K. Parthasarathi (Thinker)
- K. P. Suresha (Activist)
- Punith N. (Advocate)
- Prof. M. R. Nandan (Professor)
- Prof. M. Chandra Poojary (Professor)
Karnataka People’s Forum against War on Adivasis
