‘Can’t defeat ideology by force’: Opposition targets Govt on extremism

“You cannot defeat an ideology only with force. You defeat it by addressing injustice…You defeat it by ensuring that development is done and not as an exploitation…ultimately, this is not a battle for land. It is a battle for trust,” he said.

Among the Opposition MPs who sought to take on the Centre over the issue, TMC’s Mahua Moitra underlined that it was important to win the trust of the local tribal population in LWE-affected areas.

“To really remove the threat of LWE we need to win trust; it’s not about winning terrain. People need to give up fear, they don’t just need to give up guns…please do not pat yourself on the back until this is done,” she said.

“LWE did not just happen ov­e­rnight; Its roots are socio-economic, political, exploitation of native lands, displacement of tribals, looting of natural resources which rightfully belong to tribals, and historical neglect of poor and tribal areas by successive governments,” she said, adding that LWE can’t be viewed as “just a law-and-order problem, and it cannot be solved as just a law-and-order problem”.

SP MP Zia Ur Rahman demanded whether the definition of extremism was “limited to the forests”, adding that the solution to all problems was neither the gun nor jail. “Where there is extremism, what is the real reason? Poverty, unemployment, lack of education and healthcare, the snatching away of land and rights are the real cause. If these issues are not solved, the problem will not end. Security is necessary, but justice is more important,” he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said, “On one hand, it is good you are ending terrorism…but the way you are doing it and if they have not got justice, do not think…that they will remain quiet…Ideology never ends.”

Jatin Anand is an Assistant Editor with the national political bureau of The Indian Express. With over 16 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is a seasoned expert in national governance, electoral politics, and bureaucratic affairs. Having covered high-stakes beats including the Election Commission of India (ECI), intelligence, and urban development, Jatin provides authoritative analysis of the forces shaping Indian democracy. He is an alumnus of Zakir Husain Delhi College (DU) and the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, where he specialized in Print Journalism. Expertise High-Stakes Beat Coverage: Throughout his decade-and-a-half career, Jatin has covered some of the most sensitive and influential beats in the country, including: The Election Commission of India (ECI): Monitoring electoral policy, reforms, and the conduct of national and state polls. National Security & Intelligence: Reporting on the internal mechanisms and developments within India's security apparatus. Urban Development: Analyzing the policies and bureaucratic processes driving the transformation of India’s cities. National Political Bureau: In his current role, he tracks the intersection of policy and politics, offering deep-dive reporting on the Union government and national political movements. Academic Credentials: Zakir Husain Delhi College (DU): Alumnus of one of Delhi's premier institutions. Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai: Specialized in Print Journalism at India's most prestigious journalism school. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd