Steel Corporations behind anti-maoist campaign

The Naxalites say steel companies and Chattisgarh's politician Mahendra Karma are backing Salwa Judum.

Karma has denied the charge.

The Naxal-hit districts of Dantewada and Bastar are now flush with investments.

The land is rich, worth thousands of crores. For Dantewada alone in the last two years the central government approved seventeen licenses for reconnaissance prospecting and mining.

Steel companies

Last year on June 4 Tata Steel signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government. The same day Karma set up Salwa Judum to fight Naxal violence. An MoU by Essar followed.

For Ganesh Uieke state committee member of the CPI Maoist this is no coincidence.

"They know that as long as they don't crush our movement we won't allow them to open their factories," says Uieke.

"We are now a force to reckon with. Earlier we were too small. We are strong know. We have the PLGA and the strength to hit at them".

Charge denied

Mahendra Karma described the charge against him as nonsense. "They are trying to defame my mission with this character assassination," he said.

"The MOU was signed by the government. I was there because I am the leader of the Congress party. This Salwa Judum movement was not sponsored by the government and it is not like the signing of the MOU between Tata and the government."

Ganapathy, the general secretary, the supreme leader of the Maoists made it clear recently that his war against the government would only intensify if it doesn't stop what he calls the facilitation of the plunder of Chhattisgarh.

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