PUCL activist denies Maoist link, seeks action against 'malicious campaign'

By A Representative 

The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has issued a strong statement condemning what it describes as a "wilfully mischievous misrepresentation" of its National Secretary, human rights activist and writer Seema Azad, following the circulation of a purported statement allegedly issued by the Communist Party of India (Maoist) – North Coordination Committee (NCC).

According to PUCL, a six-page statement dated June 26, 2026, surfaced on social media and was later read out on the "Bastar Talkies" news podcast. The document allegedly claimed that Azad was a state secretary of the CPI (Maoist) and announced her expulsion from the organisation while levelling several allegations against her.

Rejecting the claims, PUCL said Seema Azad has "categorically denied" ever being a member of the CPI (Maoist) or any of its factions. The organisation said Azad has provided a written declaration stating that she has never been associated with the Maoist party "directly or indirectly," making the question of her expulsion "does not even arise."

In a separate letter addressed to the PUCL leadership on July 7, Azad detailed the sequence of events following the circulation of the alleged statement. She said the document began circulating on social media on the night of June 30 and was subsequently discussed on the Bastar Talkies YouTube channel on July 2, where additional allegations were made against her and her partner, Vishwavijay.

Azad said that after receiving the document from concerned well-wishers, she publicly clarified through social media that neither she nor her partner had any connection with the CPI (Maoist). She also informed the PUCL leadership about the developments on July 1.

Her letter further states that a solidarity statement was issued by Punjab-based human rights activist Arihant Kumar Maleri on July 4. According to Azad, on July 6 the same alleged Maoist statement was circulated again by the Bhagat Singh Students' Morcha with an appeal to boycott her, while she also accused former PUCL Uttar Pradesh General Secretary Kamal Singh of attempting to instigate people against her through social media and personal messages.

"I want to be absolutely clear in saying that I, Seema Azad, was never a part of the Maoist party nor any of its factions nor of any other political party. I was never a member, nor am I now," Azad wrote in her letter.

She added that while she is familiar with the Bhagat Singh Students' Morcha as a student organisation based at Banaras Hindu University, she does not know those behind the alleged campaign against her. Azad argued that the campaign appeared aimed at branding human rights activists in a manner that would expose them to state repression and isolate them from public support.

PUCL, in its statement endorsed by its National Executive Committee, described Azad as a prominent human rights activist, feminist, journalist, author and editor of the Hindi bi-monthly magazine Dastak, who has been associated with the organisation since 2006. The organisation also recalled that she was arrested in 2010 on allegations of Maoist links, convicted in 2012, and later granted bail by the Allahabad High Court while her appeal remains pending.

The civil liberties organisation said it was unclear who had authored the purported statement. While it carried the letterhead of the CPI (Maoist) – North Coordination Committee, PUCL said there was "a strong possibility" that it could have been fabricated by a state agency to falsely implicate Azad. At the same time, it added that even if the document had originated from the organisation whose name it bore, the allegations contained in it were "wholly false," "imaginary," and defamatory.

Reaffirming its support for Azad, PUCL said its members engage in public, transparent and constitutional human rights work based on the values of the Indian Constitution. The organisation also alleged that several of its members, including Binayak Sen, Sudha Bharadwaj, T.G. Ajay, Fr. Stan Swamy and Seema Azad, had previously faced false criminal cases despite pursuing peaceful and legal methods of activism.

The statement, jointly issued by PUCL President Kavita Srivastava and General Secretary Dr. V. Suresh on behalf of the National Executive Committee, concluded by expressing solidarity with Azad and reiterating the organisation's commitment to defending constitutional rights and non-violent human rights advocacy.