A foot march for peace in Maoist-hit areas of central India, especially in Bastar division of Chhattisgarh – commenced from Narayanpur in Bastar on Friday and is on its way to Raipur where it will culminate on March 23.
The participants of the 11-day, 222-kilometre peace rally are mainly the kin of the victims and survivors of both Maoist violence and action by security forces and their supporters from across the country.
The foot march is being dubbed ‘Dandi March 2.0’ after the Dandi March led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930 that had also commenced on March 12. The march is being conducted under the initiative ‘The New Peace Process’ that began in 2018 and is working to restore peace in Central India.
Convener of the New Peace Process, Shubhrasnshu Choudhary said that the march is planned between Narayanpur and Raipur as they are the headquarters of Naxal and the government respectively. The goal of this rally is to end the continuing tussle between security forces and Naxals and to give Bastar freedom from violence, he said.
Before showing the green flag to rally on Friday, former Central Minister Arvind Netam said that, "When Gandhiji broke salt law India was a British colony but now as we have our government, we appeal to it to follow the Constitution and bring peace to Bastar. With the government, we also appeal to the other side (Maoists) to follow the peaceful way to resolve the issue."
In October 2020, a telephonic referendum was held within Bastar in which 92 per cent of people voted in favour of peaceful dialogue to resolve the Maoist issue. For the first time an option to respond in local tribal language was given to the participants during this telephonic survey.
To take forward the opinion of the common people, the event is being organised as a form of appeal to Naxals and the government to come forward for dialogue and reach a peaceful solution, Choudhary said. On reaching Raipur on March 23, Chaikle Maandi (meeting for peace) will be held where victim families, members of Sarva Adivasi Samaaj and active members of civil society will put forward their stories, viewpoints and demands.
On March 24, an ‘art for peace’ initiative will be held where painters from all across Chhattisgarh and country have been urged to participate and paint the walls in public places of Raipur with messages of peace.