Timeline to eradicate Maoists 'linked to' mineral resources extraction plan in Bastar: APRD

By A Representative

The Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) has issued a press statement raising concerns over alleged human rights violations in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, under the ongoing security operations labeled as "Operation Kagaar." The organization claims that since the new state government assumed office under Chief Minister Bishnu Deo Sai on December 13, 2023, there has been a significant increase in violence, resulting in the deaths of over 300 individuals.

The APDR alleges that a large portion of those killed are civilians misidentified as Maoists in encounter operations conducted by paramilitary forces such as the CRPF, CoBRA, and District Reserve Guards. The group has called for transparency, stating that the identities of those killed have not been verified and has demanded a halt to such operations.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reportedly set a deadline of March 2026 for the complete eradication of Maoists. The APDR suggests that this timeline might be linked to resource extraction plans in Bastar, which is rich in mineral reserves. The statement accuses the government of prioritizing corporate interests over human rights, citing the establishment of nearly 200 paramilitary camps in the region.

The APDR argues that left-wing extremism is a socio-economic issue rooted in structural inequality and advocates for dialogue with Maoist groups as a solution. The organization has put forward the following demands:

1. Immediate cessation of "Operation Kagaar" and similar operations.

2. An end to the policy of targeting armed opposition groups through military action.

3. Withdrawal of the policy of elimination and initiation of dialogue with Maoists.

4. Halt to the establishment of new paramilitary camps and the disbanding of existing ones.

5. Repeal of bans on organizations like the "Moolwasi Bachao Manch.

6. Release of individuals detained under allegations of Maoist links.

7. Adherence to the Fifth Schedule for any projects in Adivasi regions, including obtaining consent from local Gram Sabhas.

8. Stopping the use of drone bombings and mortar attacks in Adivasi areas.

The APDR emphasizes that addressing the root causes of the conflict through socio-economic measures is crucial to resolving the ongoing unrest. The organization has urged the government to reconsider its approach and prioritize democratic and human rights principles.

The 'Dr' debate masks a larger crisis in allied-health education

By Dr P K Gupta* India’s allied-health professions have long operated in a fragmented landscape of universities, hospitals, State authorities and private institutions, each with its own nomenclature, curriculum and standards. The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021 was meant to correct this by creating a unified national framework for education, professional regulation and institutional recognition. Few dispute the need for such oversight. The real question is whether standardisation is quietly becoming synonymous with longer courses, additional internships and new professional titles—changes that risk masking deeper gaps in clinical training, institutional capacity and affordability.

Arrival of USS Lincoln: A ‘leisure trip’ to Thailand or a neo-colonial move to commodify women?

By Benyasiri Eimviriyapong The arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) for a ‘leisure trip’ in Thailand before returning to its campaign of destruction against the people of West Asia demands immediate interrogation and opposition. For us Thai people, and those in sites of American plunder across the globe, this a rattling of the US’ cold war colonial chains on its most loyal lap dog, while conducting a war of aggression in Iran and the ongoing genocide in Palestine. In allowing the USS Lincoln to dock, the Thai ruling elites are once again facilitating a system of imperial violence that extends far beyond Southeast Asian borders, a system which in our case, is predicated on sexual violence and femicide.

Pilgrimage or pollution? The waste crisis of Indian faith

By Raj Kumar Sinha* In today's times, there are certain issues that are constantly talked about and discussed, yet no visible impact seems to be made. Beyond water, soil, and pollution, one crisis that continues to be overlooked is waste. Like other life-threatening problems, waste too is gradually moving toward burying and obliterating us. After the Kanwar Yatra in Haridwar, approximately 8,000 tonnes of waste were left behind on the riverbanks, including bottles filled with urine.

Counterview

Search This Blog