Defying anti-insurgency campaign, Maoists hold demonstrate in West Bengal and Punjab

By Harsh Thakor* 

In a notable development, despite the Government of India's sustained campaign against the Maoist insurgency in recent years, organisations in West Bengal and Punjab have continued to hold public programmes associated with the movement's political legacy. Recently, groups in Kolkata and Moga organised separate events focusing on the legacy of the Maoist movement, contemporary political developments, and issues relating to education, democratic rights and social movements.

Kolkata Student Programmes

The Revolutionary Students Front (RSF) organised a Martyrs' Remembrance Programme at the Presidency University campus in Kolkata on 31 July 2026, during what it described as Martyrs' Week. According to the organisers, the event commemorated members of the Maoist revolutionary communist movement from India and abroad, including those killed during Operation Kagar. The programme concluded with the singing of "The Internationale."

Speakers at the event argued that Hindutva politics has assumed neo-fascist characteristics and linked this to recent student protests over examination paper leaks. They maintained that Maoist ideology continues to retain political relevance and described the 1967 Naxalbari uprising as a significant milestone in India's revolutionary movement. Speakers also criticised what they described as attempts to suppress student movements and condemned the killings of Maoist leaders during Operation Kagar.

Earlier, on 20 July, the RSF, along with several student and mass organisations, organised a rally in Jadavpur demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, expressing solidarity with protesting students and calling for the withdrawal of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Testing Agency (NTA) framework. The organisation had also conducted programmes at Jadavpur's 8B Bus Stand area in support of student protests in Delhi, raising concerns over the education system, examination processes and the privatisation of education.

Moga Meeting

On 28 July, the Lok Sangram Manch organised a public meeting at Nachatar Singh Yadgar Hall in Moga, Punjab. Organisers stated that approximately 600 people attended, with participants including members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Krantikari) and the Grameen Mazdoor Workers Union.

The programme began with a two-minute silence in memory of revolutionary martyrs, followed by a cultural performance by Jagseer Maharaj.

Speakers discussed the history of the Naxalbari movement and its significance from their political perspective. They argued that Hindutva politics, imperialism and landlordism operate together and contended that the weakening of the Maoist movement had adversely affected the democratic rights of Adivasis, agricultural labourers and poor peasants.

The meeting also addressed issues including the rights of religious minorities and Dalits, federalism, state policy, and India's economic and political direction. Speakers expressed support for Maoist ideology, stating that despite setbacks it continues to retain relevance. They also criticised former members whom they described as having departed from the political line of the CPI (Maoist).

The meeting paid tribute to a number of figures associated with revolutionary movements over several decades, including Charu Mazumdar, Kanhai Chatterjee, Prithipal Singh Randhawa, Baba Bujha Singh, Avtar Singh Dhudike, Lal Inder Singh Lali and Udham Singh.

Speakers also criticised what they described as economism within sections of the contemporary movement in Punjab and argued that the political approach associated with the T. Nagi Reddy–Harbhajan Sohi tradition had diverted the revolutionary movement from its original course.

Among the speakers were Sukhminder Singh, secretary of Lok Sangram Manch; Lakhveer Singh of the Revolutionary Labourers Union; Baldev Singh Jira of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Krantikari); Jagmohan Singh, district secretary of BKU (Krantikari); and Lok Sangram Manch activist Rajesh Malhotra. Those present included Darshan Tur, Darshan Gholiya and Gurdeep Vairoke.

The programmes in Kolkata and Moga reflected the continuing activity of organisations that identify with Maoist political traditions and their engagement with issues including education, democratic rights, agrarian concerns and contemporary political developments.