New Delhi: Politburo member of the Communist Part of India-Maoists, Koteshwar Rao, who is leading the fight against the state police in West Bengal, has defied the government and blamed it for the violence. He spoke exclusively to CNN-IBN from a secret location.
"The state government and Central Government are propagating that the leaders are away from the area. We never went away from the area, we are in the area, we will be in the area. People are with us," he said.
"In many areas direct battle is going on. In many areas, not just Lalgarh, thousands of people in many villages are rallying. That is the proof. If you mistreat the people they will resist," he stated.
"The state government is isolating people to the margins and again and again. They are sending heavy troops, they are creating a psychological war and psyche, they are arresting many people. What does that mean? If the state government wants to send in some more forces, we will welcome it. The Congress is sending forces to many places - Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal," Rao added.
He also said that the war is between the state and the people, and that this was not a war between people and Maoists. "At the same time the war is not between state and Maoists. It is a war between state and people."
Rao also said that he had proposed a solution to the government, but that the state chose to declare war on its people.
"I already proposed three things for the government to get out of this situation - first stop the attacks, second withdraw the forces, third please come to Salilpur Chowk - that is a village in West Midnapore where trouble broke out in November. Not only myself, the entire population of Lalgarh demanded the government stop the war, but they declared war. When state declares war, people will resist," he stated.
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