Chhattisgarh Minister's Fiery Response to Pro-Maoist Slogans
Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma has issued a sharp challenge to a group of students in Delhi who raised slogans supporting slain Maoist commander Madvi Hidma during a protest at India Gate. The minister strongly criticized what he called the romanticization of violence from the comfort of Delhi and invited the students to witness the ground reality in Bastar firsthand.
"Come to Bastar and See the Truth" - Minister's Direct Challenge
Speaking to reporters in Raipur on Monday, Sharma expressed his frustration with the protesters whom he accused of having "no idea what Bastar has suffered" over decades of Maoist violence. The minister made a direct offer to the students: "I invite them—come once, and I will personally make all arrangements. They will understand the situation here."
Sharma didn't mince words when describing his perspective on Maoism, stating clearly that "Maoism that talks and wants to govern using guns cannot sustain at all." He emphasized that India's democratic framework has no place for such ideologies.
The Incident That Sparked the Controversy
The controversy began on Sunday when what started as an anti-pollution demonstration at India Gate took an unexpected turn. A group of young participants began waving posters calling Hidma a "people's hero" and chanted "comrade Hidma amar rahe," which translates to "long live comrade Hidma."
Videos of the sloganeering quickly went viral across social media platforms, drawing outrage from political circles and the public alike. Delhi BJP leaders were among the first to share the clips on social media platform X, accusing the protesters of using the pollution rally as a façade for their real motives.
The party's official post claimed: "Posters on pollution, slogans for Naxalites… their real motive is clear," while directly pointing fingers at what they called "anti-national elements" behind the act.
Historical Context and Democratic Values
In his remarks, Minister Sharma drew historical parallels, specifically referencing the Tiananmen Square incident in China. He pointed to this event as an example of how Maoist governments have treated their own citizens, particularly students.
"I would like to tell these students to watch what had happened at Tiananmen Square in China, when the government of Maoist China had killed the students of their own country," Sharma stated, drawing a clear distinction between such regimes and India's democratic values.
The minister acknowledged that the students were "kids filled with different sentiments" but stressed the importance of proper understanding before taking positions on complex issues. He promised to arrange meetings with local youth in Bastar who have experienced the real impact of Maoist violence firsthand.
Sharma concluded with a balanced perspective on youth activism: "It's good to question for the sake of society and the country, but it's even more important to understand the issue properly first."
The incident has sparked broader discussions about urban romanticization of armed movements and the importance of understanding ground realities in conflict-affected regions like Bastar.
