ICSPWI (Italian section) – Modi’s “Maoist Obsession” – The internationalist solidarity campaign

Events unfolding in India confirm the dire situation the comrades and cadres of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) are facing. Significant statements by Prime Minister Modi demonstrate that the issue of the Naxalites and Maoism remains a central focus for him; Modi has declared that the Maoist insurgency has been substantially defeated militarily, though this does not mean it has vanished.

Modi emphasizes that the country—or rather, his regime—now faces a new battle against what is termed "Dimagi Naxal" (Intellectual Naxalism), the ideological movement rooted in Maoism: "If the violence has been defeated, the task now is to defeat the ideology that drove and guided it." This aligns with the regime's current actions, which appear to be targeting Naxalite intellectuals. Modi states that these comrades and their spheres of influence have been identified and isolated; consequently, it is evident that repression will now be concentrated on these areas.

These statements corroborate reports from various associations—some of which have appeared on our blogs—regarding the ongoing repression in areas engaged in the struggle against the Modi regime.

Two other issues testify to the fact that the "Maoist obsession" remains central to Modi's agenda. The Home Minister has declared that, having defeated the Naxalites, the goal is now to employ the same methods to combat drug trafficking. This confirms that every escalation of repression against the Naxalite movement translates into further government action, applying the same brutal tactics against any entity that poses a challenge to the regime. Furthermore, on the 5th, Prime Minister Modi threatened Pakistan, stating that if Pakistan engages in armed actions amounting to an incursion into Indian territory—given the existing national and international tensions between the two countries—India will respond. He emphasized this by saying, "just as we did with the Maoists..." and "the way we have tackled terrorism shows that we mean business."

This topic is used in two ways: on one hand, to claim victory over Maoism; on the other, it reflects an enduring obsession for the Indian regime, which is well aware that its strategic future hinges on whether or not the Naxalite movement resurges.

Other news are also intereting. For instance, the Nepalese government—through Prachanda—has officially requested that the Indian government release twenty rebel Maoist cadres currently held in Patna's prisons.

Clearly, the Naxalite threat in India is far from eliminated, despite the Modi regime's triumphalist statements and military victory; we, for our part, view this not as a strategic victory, but merely as a tactical one within the current phase.

For all these reasons, the ongoing campaign regarding India—culminating in the national mobilization on September 26—goes beyond mere solidarity. It addresses the fundamental dynamics of the relationship between India and its people, as well as India's place within the global system. It encompasses the alignment of forces in the imperialist war and the crises associated with it—such as the situation in Palestine, the aggression against Iran, and the international repercussions of a war with Iran, which would inevitably affect India as well. This campaign must be viewed within the context of an ongoing struggle—one that extends beyond the events of the 26th—concerning the ties between India and Palestine, as well as the international axis of trade routes linking India, Israel, and Italy. Regarding Italy specifically, the key issue concerns the ties between Leonardo (military production state owned enterprise) and the Indian regime.

In this context, our initiative seeks to combine three elements: propaganda, agitation, and direct action.

On the level of action, the main element—as seen in similar initiatives worldwide—is the issue of political prisoners and state repression. This repression targets both revolutionary-leaning intellectuals accused of links to Maoism and the broader population facing the regime's mass crackdowns. In recent months, this repression has impacted India's most significant and timely urban movement: the so-called "Cockroach Movement." This movement sparked unprecedented mobilization among students and youth, shaking India and revealing to the world the nature of the contradictions the country is facing. The Cockroach Movement is also deeply connected to India's diverse communities...

...communities existing around the world—precisely because this youth is also connected to that segment of the population forced to leave India.

September 13th marks the commemoration of Jatin Das, a figure of great historical significance and the first universally recognized martyr of the Indian revolution during the era of British colonial rule. He died in Lahore prison on September 13, 1929, after a 63-day hunger strike. A call to action issued by the coalition of associations known as "Justice for Kerala Prisoners" highlights their link to the struggle for the rights and dignity of political prisoners in India.

Raising awareness and mobilizing on behalf of political prisoners—as well as responding to the regime's manifold repressive operations—tangibly links the International Day of September 26th to the ongoing mobilization within India.

The issue of political prisoners in India further confirms that, as ever, the Modi government has no intention of "pardoning" political prisoners or those incarcerated due to the people's war and armed struggle in India.

The government has used the weapon of blackmail for political ends to secure defections and disarmament. In a statement made during a major trial involving several prisoners—many of whom had surrendered—the judge clearly indicated that surrender does not automatically exempt individuals from standing trial for their offenses, crimes, or attacks. This implies that the Modi regime's judicial stance is to ensure that every trial effectively results in a long prison sentence for the accused. The issue of political prisoners and repression links the plight of Indian prisoners to the broader situation of political prisoners in Palestine and to the dynamics of repression affecting political prisoners everywhere—including in our own country—whether they belong to the Palestine solidarity movement or, more generally, to circles considered revolutionary in relation to imperialist regimes and states.