The shocking death of 76 jawans of the CRPF in Dantewada in their encounter with Maoists on April 6 has naturally shaken the nation. The home minister even offered to resign. The violence has brought into focus the urgency of dealing with issues that had driven tribals, adivasis and the poor to the side of the Maoists who believe in violent means to achieve their ends.

Not even a week had elapsedsince that 76 deaths-- when the media and the politicians are again talking of IPL cricket and a minister's alleged involvement with a glamorous lady who is also allegedly involved in the murky business of making money through the IPL matches. Real issues are constantly relegated to the background in our preoccupation with cricket and entertainment!

The 32-page essay by Arundhati Roy in the Outlook magazine, in its issue dated March 29, 2010, drew bouquets and brickbats. Some appreciated her boldness analysis; others accused her of glorifying violence. With all the debates, we are nowhere nearer to finding a way out…

But violence is no answereven the violence of the Maoists. Summary trial and executions of innocent villagers who are caught between the police and the extremists can not be justified. It needs no telling that a duly elected government can not abdicate its responsibility of maintaining law and order.

In the Western world, there arose occasionally members of the elite society who cared enough for the poor and oppressed to take legal measures for checking abuses and started movements to bring about justice in matters involving the weak. But there is no such corresponding sensitivity in our middle or elite classes, in the matter of the continued neglect of the masses.

Certain grievances had triggered uprisings in the North East, Kashmir, Sri Lanka in the recent past and yet it must be admitted they did no good to any party, except interrupting the development process and disturb the peace in these areas. 'Those who take the sword shall perish by the sword' is a truism proved by history.

Unfortunately everywhere the attempt has been to meet hatred by hatred and violence. Conciliatory efforts are totally lacking and the voice of peace activists missing , woefully missing, in all public discourses.

How the politicians and the media handle the Indo-Pakistan relations is typical example of the destructive, hate-filled and insensitive attitudes that only help to aggravate and not lessen tensions. Both sides keep buying arms to bolster defences , diverting resources from necessary development activities.

As things stand there seems to be more efforts expended on making life comfortable for the middle and upper classes through malls, luxury cars, mobiles, computers, highways and metro rails than in providing food, shelter and clothing for the deprived and the marginalized sections. There is need to care more for justice to these sections than creating an image for this country among the comity of nations by holding the Commonwealth Games.

If earlier we promoted corruption, red tapism and trade unionism in the name of socialism, currently in the name of liberalization we are allowing the rich industrialists and businessmen to promote a sort of consumerism that is not in the interest of the masses. We take pride in car manufacturers producing the millionth car or acquiring foreign companies, while agriculture is neglected.

The fact is that since independence, the country has followed policies that had left the poor in the lurch. The charge of 'Nero fiddling when Rome was burning' is fully applicable to the governments of this nation which bothered more about elections and remaining in power and playing to the gallery rather than improving the conditions in which the masses of the poor lived.

If the poor are not to be driven to take the side of the extremists, there is need to strengthen the democratic system and ensure that they have access to the fruits of development. More than ever there is need to take those measures to improve the governance so as to improve the confidence of the marginalized in the system.