Maoist leader Bhupati alias Sonu urges rebels to end armed struggle

“In Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, I, along with 60 comrades, laid down our arms. After that, hundreds of comrades have laid down their arms in Chhattisgarh. Meanwhile, Chandranna (Pulluri Prasada Rao), a Central Committee member of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), has also recently arrived in Telangana for rehabilitation,” Bhupati said in the video.

He admitted that several comrades lost their lives while working in the movement for a long time. “Even today, many comrades in the country are stubbornly involved in the armed struggle on the path to adopting reactionary power (irakwar satta). We need to understand that by following this path, we have become distant from the people…Even though our Central Committee (CC) is recognizing all the changes, it is still not ready to bring about changes in our struggle, which shows its fundamentalist approach (katmullavad tarike),” Bhupati stressed in the video appeal.

“…we have to understand that we will not move forward with the armed struggle. I request all to take a decision, lay down your arms, come among the people, and work,” said Bhupati.

Addressing criticism from within Maoist ranks, Bhupati dismissed allegations of betrayal made against surrendered cadres. “When we laid down our arms, some people criticized us, spreading various kinds of negative propaganda, using words like ‘traitor’ or ‘covert’. I completely refute this claim,” he said.

He stresses that the active comrades can work while living among the people, in accordance with the law. “I request all the intellectuals, pro-democracy lovers (janwaadi premiyo), and mainly the well-wishers of the Adivasi people in the country, to understand and support the decision we have taken,” he added.

For cadres willing to surrender, Bhupati read out two contact numbers, one of his and the other of Rupesh (surrendered senior Moaist Satish Kofa). He has appealed to the cadres to connect on ‘8856038533’ and ‘6267138163’.

Talking to The Indian Express, Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police (SP), Neelotpal (IPS) said, “Polit Bureau Member Sonu alias Bhupathi has appealed to remaining Left armed cadres to lay down their arms and join the mainstream. His appeal is guided by his views that there is no space for armed struggle…”

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