The Naxal movement in India is counting its last breaths, but these Naxalites are now engaged in their last fight. In fact, the banned CPI (Maoist) had appealed to the government to stop anti-Naxal operations for three months, so that they could surrender. However, just a day after this, a big contradiction has come to light within the party. Contrary to its own leadership, the organisation’s Central Military Commission (CMC) has issued a strong message asking all cadres to celebrate People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) week from December 2 to 8 with full ‘revolutionary energy’ and reiterate their resolve to ‘fight till the last breath’.
This statement issued on the 25th anniversary of PLGA is being considered as an open challenge against the campaign being run by the Central and State Governments. The CMC said the anniversary was ‘a symbol of the organisation’s courage after one of its bloodiest years’.
On the other hand, the Central Government has made it clear many times that Naxalism will be completely eliminated by March 2026. Security agencies have also increased vigilance. According to a Times of India report, a senior police officer said, ‘Whether the Maoists want to surrender or fight, the security forces will respond to every armed cadre. There will be no relaxation or ‘wait-and-watch’ in operations. The pressure will continue and intelligence-based action will continue.
On the other hand, Maoists have also admitted that in the last one year, 320 of their cadres were killed, which includes eight Central Committee members, 15 state level leaders and General Secretary Basavaraj. Maximum 243 deaths occurred in Dandakaranya area. On the other hand, these Maoists have also claimed to have killed 116 security personnel. However, security agencies have called this a blatant lie.
In its internal review, the CMC termed the Bhupathi-Satish faction as ‘traitors’, alleging that they had committed ‘betrayal’ by surrendering over 227 weapons. The leadership warned the cadres that ‘armed struggle is the only way to victory, and this will continue even after March 2026.’
The instructions issued for PLGA Week emphasize on small secret meetings, poster campaigns and recruitment activities. “Celebrate the anniversary as our duty to protect the party, PLGA and the revolutionary movement,” the statement said.
This development has come at a time when senior officials of Maharashtra have talked about opening the way for surrender on a large scale without stopping the operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have also repeatedly reiterated that the end of Naxalism is just a few months away.
Security agencies are on high alert ahead of PLGA week. He believes that this new appeal could be an attempt to boost morale and re-establish its relevance in the areas under the weakening hold of Maoists.
Maoists have been celebrating this week for the last two and a half decades, in which they remember the killed cadres, praise the actions of the fighters and inspire new people to join the organization. Now they are again declaring that ‘they will fight till their last breath’, so that they can send the message of their presence.
