Pizza and Pepsi threaten Maoist fiefdom

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Pizza and Pepsi threaten Maoist fiefdom

 

Sujeet Kumar (Indo-Asian News Service)

 

Bastar India(Chhattisgarh), August 8, 2005

Pepsi and pizza are proving to be effective weapons in weaning the

people of this largely tribal region of Chhattisgarh from Maoist

influence.

 

The extremist Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), which has

virtually ruled the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh in southcentral

India for 15 years, is fighting to save its fiefdom against a

gastronomic offensive by the state government.

 

For the first time since the early 1990s when Maoists gained ground

in Kanker, Bastar and Dantewada districts, the rebels have been

facing a serious revolt thanks to the pizza and Pepsi showered by the

home department in poverty-stricken Maoist bastions.

 

And it is working far better than the various strategies and millions

of rupees invested in tackling the menace. So much so that the home

department is trying to increase the supply of these fast food

favourites heavily in the forest belt.

 

"Yes, we have been offering food items to local tribes as part of the

government's decision to ensure food security in poor and backward

areas and bring these people back to the mainstream," Dantewada

collector KR Pisda told IANS.

 

But sources in the home department admitted that the Bastar tribes

were taking to Pepsi and pizza far more than any other "food item".

 

A senior official said: "Money spent into weeding out the Maoist

menace makes sense when it is going into buying soft drinks and pizza

that are feeding hungry people. When these people get direct money,

they spend it on alcohol."

 

The official sought to link the "change of heart" of some former

Maoists to the fact that they were well fed.

 

Last month 117 members of the "Sangham" or local CPI-Maoist

affiliated units surrendered at a rally held by the government at

Bhairamgarh, and more have followed suit since then.

 

Sanghams were instrumental in helping the Maoists take command of

Bastar, known for its picturesque valley, hilly terrain and rich iron

ore resources.

 

The Maria tribe, with its strong presence in vast stretches of the

Bijapur, Bhairamgarh, Geedam and Kesloor areas of Dantewada, has

given up Sangham membership and joined the armed anti-Maoist movement

that broke out in June.

 

The government claims that Maoists are so shaken about Sangham

members giving up their violent ways that their top leaders invited

local and national journalists last week in the deep forests to

convey its views.

 

Chhattisgarh is one of the states worst hit by Maoist violence that

has taken a toll of 150 lives including 93 civilians since January

2004.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1455465,000900030012.htm?

headline=Pizza,~Pepsi~threaten~Maoist~fiefdom