Naxal rally in Capital after clash with cops

The rally may not have been big if crowds are an indicator but Naxalites under the banner of People’s Solidarity for Revolutionary Movement today made their presence felt in the Capital after a long time.

Playing hide and seek with the police, they emerged from near the Red Fort after prolonged arguments to be allowed to hold a protest rally. The leaders, including Varavara Rao, courted arrest but before that, they celebrated the coming together of People’s War Group and Maoist Communist Centre and the subsequent launch of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). What is unclear is to what extent the new party is receiving open support from the rank and file of the PWG and MCC.

The Naxalites slammed the local administration for stopping them from holding a rally while talks were on with the Andhra government. ‘‘Why is the government here — we don’t know whether it is the Central government or the Delhi government — obstructing our rally here?’’ said Rao. ‘‘After all, they are talking to us in Andhra Pradesh.’’ Rao said.