Question

Explain the correlation of the following statement.

Naxalism and National Unity

Answer 1

The Naxalite movement that is now referred to as the Maoist movement or Left-Wing Extremism has its main support base amongst certain sections of landless agricultural labour, Dalits and tribal communities. It is also spreading into urban centers, especially the blue-collar workers. It succeeds where there is a sense of injustice, exploitation, oppression and a feeling of neglect by the State.

Naxalism began as a protest against the feudal order in 1967 at Naxalbari in West Bengal. At an ideological level, the roots may be traced in the writings of Charu Majumdar whose articles were based on the ideology of Marx-Lenin-Mao. This movement lost its momentum in the seventies after the arrest of Muzumdar and the government policies of non-tolerance of the agitation.