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On the eve of its talks with the Andhra Pradesh government, the People’s War Group (PWG) today announced its merger with the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC), the other major Left wing extremist outfit which has Bihar and Jharkhand as its theatre of operations.
Once locked in a bitter turf war, the PWG and MCC had been carrying out joint operations of late.
The united outfit will be called the Communist Party of India (Maoist) or simply Maoist Party.
A joint statement signed by PWG central committee general secretary Ganapathi and MCC central committee general secretary Kishen was released to the media simultaneously in Hyderabad and New Delhi. Ganapathi will head the new party.
Promising to continue their armed movement, the new party said it would actively back the Nepal Maoists.
Addressing the media in Hyderabad this evening, new party state secretary Ramakrishna said the merger would certainly boost the Naxalite movement in the country. He, however, claimed it would not impact the Andhra talks process.
‘‘There will not be any major ideological changes in the erstwhile PWG line. In fact, the merger took place on September 21. The talks process has been accepted by the newly formed party,’’ Ramakrishna said.
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What merger means
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• Should end turf war in Bihar, Jharkhand |
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Janashakti state secretary Amar welcomed the merger.
Andhra Naxalites are all set to hold their first direct talks with the government tomorrow though they have been talking about the limitations of the dialogue process.
With the Congress government offering them safe passage and police security, Naxalite leaders of the People’s War and Janashakthi have reached Hyderabad and are now staying at a government guest house.
They will be escorted from Manjeera Guest House to the MCR HRD Institute, the venue for the talks tomorrow.
Ramakrishna, a school teacher-turned-Naxalite who once carried a reward of Rs 12 lakh on his head, the secretary of Andhra-Orissa border special zone committee Sudhakar, member of North Telangana special zone secretary Ganesh and Janashakthi leaders Amar and Riaz will participate in the talks.
Andhra Home Minister K Jana Reddy will lead the government delegation and a group of mediators, including civil rights leaders and journalists, will assist in the dialogue process.
