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years, they exploited to fuel class struggle and used it as a deception to further their anti- war. However, in last ten years, there is a significant shift in their tactics as ‘caste’ takes the centre-stage. Activism of Convenience Maoists’ ultimate aim is Political power through bloody methods of rev- olution. They want to encircle cities with ‘liberated areas’, simultaneously mobilise masses through mass organisations in cities where their enemy(i.e. Indian state) is strong and take over cities with the help of Armed cadre and Maoist mass organisations URBAN NAXALS: Behind the Bheema- Koregaon riot when the situation is conducive. They operate through different types of Front organisations in cities. Two of the alleged Maoist Front Organisations in are ‘’ and ‘Deshbhakti Division for Yuva Manch’. In , there were two youngsters, Prashant Kamble and Santosh Shelar who joined Maoist armed cadre in Gadchiroli in 2010. In Revolution an interview to various Newspapers, the parents of these youngsters men- MAHARASHTRA Police carried out raids at some Maoist tion of Kabir Kala Manch playing a key urban centres having links with Bhima-Koregaon riots. It role in the journey of their wards to Maoist armed Cadre. Interestingly, is time to unmask the real intent of Maoists and expose Kabir Kala Manch claims itself to be their fake idea of revolution an organisation fighting for cause and equality. However, they n Capt Smita Gaikwad never uttered a single word though 23 have been killed in Maharashtra by Maoists. Thus, it is This created furore among the ideo- activism of convenience. There are logues of Maoism that is deceptively reports of Late Anuradha Ghandy, called as Naxalism sitting in urban Former Central Committee Member centres. Many media persons also of CPI (Maoist) giving Rs 4000 month- AHARASHTRA criticised the move by Maharashtra ly, collected through ‘Naxal tax’, to the Police. Maoism is the ideology of founder of Kabir Kala Manch. Arun M ‘class war’, what it has to do with the Bhelke, President of ‘Deshbhakti Police carried out raids on April 18, ‘caste’ question, is the obvious ques- Yuva Manch’ allegedly took the two 2018 to Maoist urban hideouts. tion raised. Therefore, it is necessary youngsters from Pune to jungles of Searches continued in the premises to understand and expose very strate- Gadchiroli. of leftist organisations Kabir Kala gy of Maoists and the way they Manch and Republican Panther, who change their goalposts. The Exposed Nexus! played a key role in organising the Maoism has been active as an Former BJP MP and chairman of infamous Elgaar Parishad on ideology right from the independence Shipping Board, Pradeep Rawat, has December 31, 2017 in which the noto- period with the only objective of alleged that the Koregaon Bhima riots rious Jawaharlal Nehru University stu- uprooting democratic system through were conspired by Maoist groups and dent Umar Khalid also participated. the power of the gun. In their initial the members of the Kabir Kala Manch

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COVER STORY #URBANNAXALS

(KKM). He has also claimed that it is the failure of cops and has demanded that the government should conduct an inquiry into the police action. The Tactics and Strategy ruling party member has made these IN the year 2004, comments on the basis of a fact-find- (Maoist) drafted five crucial strategy ing committee report prepared by the documents for their anti-India war. In the Vivek Vichar Manch that he heads. Document, Strategy and Tactics of Indian Members of Vivek Vichar Manch have Revolution, they mention of exploiting special recently published a report purported- social sections and their issues to enhance ly on the revelations of a fact finding the people’s war. committee. According to the report, the riots at Koregaon Bhima were the Anti-People War result of a conspiracy by Maoists and “While taking up specific tactics on the special problems related organisations with similar ideology, in to these sections, we should keep in mind that the tactics should an attempt to create a rift between always be subordinate to our strategic line. We should place the religions and groups. specific programme for the solution of their specific problems in relation to and in the overall context of, the ongoing people’s war Koregaon Bhima Riots in the country.” Thus, Women, Tribal, Dalit, Minorities etc are just In recent Koregaon Bhima riots, vari- the categories for Maoists in their anti-India war. In the process, to ous Fact Finding Committees finish the real ‘Ambedkarite thought and organisations’, which accused Elgar Parishad scheduled on Communists of all variants have always considered as the ‘Petty Dec 31, 2017, of spreading caste bourgeoisie’. hatred and stated that it was one of the attempts to provoke riots. FIR is filed against the members of Prakash Ambedkar, Grandson of Harshali Potdar were present on Organising Committee of Elgar Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, was part of stage for this program. What connects Parishad. Elgar Parishad was one of this Elgar Parishad as well. He did not an Organisation fighting for Dalits and the platforms where left or ultra left go to Koregaon Bhima on Jan 1, supposedly following Dr Ambedkar’s who have been talking the language 2018, despite mobilising Dalits for six path has with the death anniversary of of ‘class’ came together in the name months with slogans ‘ Chalo Bhima a convicted Maoist leader especially of ‘caste’. Interestingly, the Koregaon’. In the year 2013, he when Maoism talks of overthrowing Organisers of Elgar Parishad com- received criticism for calling Maoists democracy and constitution in which prise members of Kabir Kala Manch, ‘Friends of the Country ‘. Milind Dr Ambedkar played the key role? who were in jail under UAPA Act for Teltumbade, the Maoist Leader oper- Moist links and are out on bail current- ating from jungles of Bastar and want- Maoists vs Ambedkarites ly. Sudhir Dhawale and Harshali ed in many cases, is relative of Any person having faith in Potdar were the leading members of Prakash Ambedkar and Prakash Constitution of India and faith in Dr this Committee. Sudhir Dhawale from Ambedkar consistently defended Ambedkar’s thoughts can never sup- Republican Panther was in jail for 40 Kabir Kala Manch members when port Maoism as Maoists believe in months for Maoist links and later Police arrested them. This is an inter- bloody methods of revolution. It is dif- acquitted. Harshali Potdar is a former esting development when a leader ficult for a common man to identify TISS student and member of working on ‘caste ‘ issues was seen ‘Maoists pretending to be Republican Panther. She was being defending those allegedly working for Ambedkarite’ and by the time they questioned for her Maoist links in the the banned terrorist organisation, i.e. realise it, it would be either too late or year 2013 as part of an investigation CPI (Maoist) whose strategies they would be already brainwashed into the murder of three tribals by revolved around ‘class’ till 2004. not to return to democratic thoughts. Maoists in Gadchiroli. Her investiga- In the year 2015, a program was That is the biggest challenge in urban tion was asked to be stopped as Rural organised in on the first areas where Maoists are more active Development Minister Jairam death anniversary of convicted Maoist than ever by using ‘caste’ as ‘weapon’ Ramesh wrote to the then Central Committee Member Sridhar and ‘names of our Nationalist Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Srinivasan. Republican Panther, who Leaders’ as ‘camouflage’ to bleed Chavan because Harshali Potdar was claim to be fighting for justice and India with thousand cuts. a Prime Ministerial Rural equality for Dalits, performed songs (The writer was a member of fact finding Development (PMRD) fellow. on this occasion. Sudhir Dhawale and committee on Bhima-Koregaon riots, 2018)

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