`Maoist activities have greatly damaged cause of tribals`

New Delhi: Former chief justice of Delhi High Court Rajindar Sachar on Friday termed Maoist activities in the country as a "massive mad act" which has "greatly damaged" the cause of tribals.

Seeking to put part of the blame for the Maoist problem on the government, Sachar said, "all that the government does is not to face the causes of the rage and despair that nurture such movements. Instead, it considers the matter as a menace, a law and order problem which has to be rooted out with the use of force." The comment came against the backdrop of a recent Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh which killed 28 people, including several Congress leaders. "I would describe the activities of these `revolutionaries` a massive mad act which has greatly damaged the cause of tribals. It is also most foul as Maoist has tried to stop political activity they do not agree with through violent means," Sachar said. Their politics is as evil as those they claim to be fighting against and it should be rejected outright by all those who stand for democratic norms in political struggles for peace with justice, he said. Suggesting a possible solution to the problem, Sachar said, "This cycle of mindless violence and counter-violence may continue unless the state honestly acts in the interest of the poor and the tribals, and does not connive with corporate mine owners in their exploitive acts." PTI