India's Threat: Maoists or Terrorists?

Terrorism or Maoism, which poses the greater threat to the Indian state? The question is not of mere academic importance. A disease can be properly treated only if it is correctly diagnosed. A problem can also be successfully dealt with only if its threat potential is correctly assessed.

Echoing home minister P Chidambaram's views on the subject, West Bengal chief ministerMamata Banerjee suggested last week that Maoists were more dangerous than terrorists. The prime minister has also been repeatedly saying that Maoists represent the greatest threat to the country's internal security. Their assessment is based on the high figures of casualties inflicted by the Maoists. There is no doubt that left-wing extremism is today the most violent movement in India. However, it would be simplistic to assess it only on the basis of lives lost. By that yardstick, farmers' suicides would perhaps emerge as a greater threat.