New Delhi, September 15: Those who marched for peace and non-violence in Chhattisgarh are now bitterly divided themselves. In the eye of the storm is Arya Samaji social activist Swami Agnivesh, who faces accusations of betraying the ’cause’ and “hijacking” the peace process.
Twelve members of the march have, in an open letter, accused him of acting at the behest of the Home Ministry. Swami Agnivesh speaks to Seema Chishti on being ‘mediator’, and on the death of Maoist interlocutor Azad.
You claim you are the ‘mediator’; talking to the Maoists on behalf of the state…
It was after this rally from Raipur to Dantewada in May, where 60 other eminent intellectuals, public citizens and scientists marched after the second attack by Maoists on the CRPF. I went to the CRPF camp and shared in their grief. I criticised the violence against the police officers too. We returned on the 10th, and on May 11 the Home Minister wrote me a letter, which is up on my website, designating me as the ‘mediator’.
But the letter doesn’t name you as the mediator.
It is the first letter of its kind by any Home Minister to anyone. I asked him, ‘why me?’ There were 60 of us. He said, ‘I heard about what you spoke at the CRPF camp and it was decided it should be you’. It was a confidential letter but when Mr Chidambaram spoke of it on CNN-IBN, I too made it public on May 2. Now, Azad, the interlocutor from the Maoist side, got my letter — where I framed what the government’s position was — on June 26. When Azad and journalist Hemendra Pandey set out with my letter to meet a contact (Sukhdeo Nag), they were killed in Adilabad. Now I feel guilty as they were carrying my letter. The Andhra Police and the Centre caused their death.
You claim to have met the PM on mediation.
Yes, I did on July 20, and he assured me that he would announce something in 4-5 days. But nothing has happened.
Your colleagues who walked with you in Chhattisgarh have denounced you.
Its an e-mail letter, unsigned. Only Banwari Lal Sharma is behind it. Medha Patkar, Narayan Desai and Prof Yashpal were very happy with my measured response to that letter. Some people were angry because the letter by Chidambaram stated that I “led” the march. I told him that I didn’t lead it, I was one of the marchers, but he (the Minister) insisted that I led it. I wanted him to make others also part of the mediation, but he said it should just be me.
So you have been interacting with Maoists?
I have actually got another open letter from another person from there, Sukant, saying I shouldn’t write any letters, so now it’s just through the media that I am talking to them. As Sukant also said Azad was carrying my letter when the Andhra police got to him, I feel morally responsible… They trusted me and lowered their guard. How come they got caught just when they started trusting me and the Centre?
The government doesn’t accept you as mediator, they deny any talks are on.
Then why did they write me that letter? They have never denied what I have said. I have had meetings with the Home Secretary, and several senior Home Ministry officials. A senior official said; ‘We should talk to Maoists form a position of strength’. I was wondering if that means they want a few top leaders killed.
What is the difference in the NDA’s and the UPA’s approach to the Maoist situation?
The Maoists should be wiped out and killed is what the NDA believes — that they are a law and order problem. But the UPA is different, especially Soniaji, Jairamji and Digvijay Singhji, and the NAC, which has some gems. They are in fact the Navratnas of this government like the Navratnas of Akbar’s court. I hope they can stop other projects detrimental to the interests of tribals and local people.
———Agencies