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 reported. 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. The fact that the government of Telangana has shown willingness to hold talks with the Maoists is noteworthy.
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.
Karnataka People’s Forum Against War on Adivasis
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A public discussion was organised by this forum made of 40+ organisations on 23rd August to highlight the atrocities happening under Operation Kagar. Soni Sori, an activist from Bastar and Prof. Hargopal of the Co-ordination Committee for Peace were invited to share their experiences. The program was overwhelmingly attended by more than 200 people. We request our readers to voice out their resistance to Operation Kagar as part of their democratic duty.
