Victims of Naxal violence on Friday made an emotional appeal to all the MPs of Parliament not to support the opposition’s Vice Presidential candidate B. Sudarshan Reddy. Under the banner of Bastar Shanti Samiti (BSS), these people held a press conference in Delhi and alleged that Reddy, while being a Supreme Court judge, weakened their fight against Naxalites by ordering the end of Salwa Judum, due to which their lives were destroyed.
Bastar Shanti Samiti convenor Jairam said, ‘When Salwa Judum gained strength, the Naxalites had become so weak that they were about to be wiped out. But Reddy sahab’s Supreme Court decision gave courage to the Naxalites again. Due to this Naxalism became a festering wound.’ He said that under Salwa Judum, the Chhattisgarh government had opened a front against the Naxalites by making tribal youth special police officers. But in 2011, the Supreme Court bench, which also included Justice Reddy, called it illegal and unconstitutional and ordered the immediate closure of Salwa Judum and confiscation of weapons.
Shiaram Ramtek, a villager from Bastar, said sadly, “If Reddy sahab had not supported the Naxalites, my son would have been alive today.” Shiaram’s son was a farmer who was allegedly kidnapped and killed by the Naxalites. Another victim, Kedarnath Kashyap, said that the Naxalites brutally killed his younger brother, who was a police constable. With tears in his eyes, he said, “The Naxalites tortured my brother and then brutally killed him. If Salwa Judum had not been banned, the Naxalites would have fled from our area by 2014 and my brother would have been with me today.”
The victims said that Naxal violence destroyed their lives. Some lost their legs in a landmine or IED blast, some lost their eyesight, some broke their spine, and some became permanently disabled. They said, ‘The person who ordered the end of Salwa Judum has now been made the candidate for the post of Vice President. This is like rubbing salt on our wounds.’
‘Nothing to do with any political ideology’
Bastar Shanti Samiti clarified that they have nothing to do with any political party or ideology, and they only want justice. They appealed to all MPs not to support Sudarshan Reddy. In a statement, they said, ‘Listen to our pain, listen to our cries, raise your voice for the Naxal victims. Understand our grief, respect our memories and recognize our fight.’ Let us tell you that the election of the Vice President will be held on September 9. B. Sudarshan Reddy is the joint candidate of the opposition, while the ruling NDA has made C. P. Radhakrishnan its candidate.
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