Civil rights leaders oppose ‘Operation Kagar’

Speakers at a seminar in Chhattisgarh criticize 'Operation Kagar' for exploiting Adivasis and mineral resources for corporate gain.

The atrocities being committed in Chhattisgarh are not only intended to wipe out the Maoist movement but also to drive out the Adivasis from their habitat, paving the way for corporate groups to exploit the mineral resources, opined the speakers at a seminar on Tuesday (March 18, 2025).

The seminar on ‘Operation Kagar’, was organised by the State committee of CPI at the Visakhapatnam Public Library. Social activist and civil rights leader G. Haragopal, Human Rights Forum A.P. and TS coordinator V.S. Krishna, environmental activist Ganjivarapu Srinivas and Adivasi rights leader Rama Rao Dora addressed the gathering. CPI State assistant secretary J.V. Satyanarayana Murthy presided over the programme.

They alleged that though the ‘Operation Kagar was being carried out on the pretext of elimination of Maoists, it aimed at handing over the mineral wealth of the Bastar region to corporate groups.

Prof. Haragopal recalled that the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister had gone on record in an interview to a financial daily that the government would remove all obstacles that come in the way of exploration of minerals from the State.

“What is the need for unleashing this large-scale violence, when new technologies are available to track down the targets. The State should resolve the disturbances peacefully and if necessary, certain extent of force can be used as per the provisions of the Constitution,” he said.

The laws allow the police to fire in self-defence but in the name of ‘encounter’, the same justification would always be given by the police. “Civil rights leaders are being deprived of freedom, and soon they may not be allowed to speak,” he said.

Referring to the suggestions of the expert group committee, led by K. Balagopal in the past, Mr. V.S. Krishna said that the government could respond to violence by the Maoists within framework of the Constitution and the law.