Indian Maoists reject capitulation and surrender

Written by: Nick G. on 20 November 2025

(Above: an assembly of People's Liberation Guerilla Army fighters)

Roughly three months ago, several leaders of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) issued a statement calling on their guerilla units to lay down their arms and accept a ceasefire with the Modi and several state governments.

Sonu, a member of the Central Committee and Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), and Satish, who is a member of the Dandakaranyam Special Zonal Committee (SZC), created a faction that argued that in the face of “changed conditions”, the party needed to adjust its strategy and participate in legal, above-ground politics.

Those “changed conditions” included the success of the government’s Operation Kagar (“Black Forest”), launched in April 2025 in guerilla-controlled areas between the states of Chhattisgarh and Telangana in central and central-southern India. Kagar is a murderous operation by security forces and has had considerable success in eliminating Party leaders and its followers among the masses.

The Sonu faction also argued that the development of capitalism in India had changed the basis for people’s war as the characteristic form of class struggle in India.

“When the enemy advances, we retreat” – Mao

People’s war follows the law of uneven development. It has successes and defeats. It attacks the enemy with arms, and in turn, is attacked by the enemy with arms. When it is attacked, the people’s army withdraws. It does not capitulate and surrender.

That is the difference between the Sonu faction and those continuing to wage armed struggle.

In early November, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) issued a statement refuting the capitulationist line.  It reads in part:

“The Central Committee, which discussed the changes in the country’s circumstances, prepared the document ‘Changes in the relations of production in India – Our Political Program’ in 2021. It made it clear that although feudalism has weakened to some extent in the country, feudalism is still the main contradiction. It also explained that although there have been some changes in capitalist relations compared to the past, the majority of the people depend on agriculture and that the land issue is fundamental, and therefore the long-term line of people’s war should be continued. 

“It discussed in detail the changes brought about by imperialist globalization in the country in the past decades and formulated changes in strategies. It provided guidance on how to take action in each area depending on the specific circumstances. It answered the questions raised on this document. 

“Neither Sonu nor Satish disagreed with this document. Now they are openly expressing their views contrary to the document. In fact, it would have been useful for the party if they had studied the country's situation and given appropriate suggestions and advice. It would have been healthy if the internal discussion had continued in the party. But, they misled the cadres by using their responsible positions and the weakness in political studies among the cadres. They acted irresponsibly and violated their duties.”

Our Party will act together with other Marxist-Leninist and Maoist parties to campaign in defence of the CPI (Maoist) and people’s war in India. 

Smash Operation Kagar!

The CPI (Maoist) and the people’s war under its leadership is certain to prevail!

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