HYDERABAD: A section of top Maoist leadership is of the view that the irreparable losses the naxalite movement suffered in Andhra Pradesh were only due to the party following a moderate line being practised by the party. This argument is likely to snowball into a major ideological battle having far-reaching consequences.

The differences among the leaders on this issue have become so sharp that some of them are demanding that the special Congress meeting discuss this issue threadbare.

Nepal `inspiration'

A document on `objectionable' moderate approach and its damage to the movement in Andhra Pradesh, is already being circulated among the cadre.

They feel that the naxalite party should have followed the `militant' line as practised by the Maoists in Nepal and the LTTE in Sri Lanka.

Interestingly, similar ideological differences saw the ouster of Kondapalli Seetaramaiah, the party ideologue, from the erstwhile People's war (PW) in the early 90s. And now the criticism is specifically aimed against party general secretary Muppala Laxamana Rao alias Ganapathi.

The criticism against Ganapathy is so strident that the document asserts: `no political party can advance its agenda without an able and committed general secretary who has the foresight to identify the correct line...but in our party, seniority is the main criterion to select the general secretary and not other essential qualities". The leaders rue that if any senior lacked initiative and foresight, he could be accommodated in any committee but not as the secretary. "Senior comrades should show some sacrificing spirit."

The essence of the controversial documents is that the moderate approach arising out of moderate leadership led to improper utilisation of the revolutionary forces in building up the army.

Lessons from LTTE

Consequently the primary responsibility of turning armed rebellion as a main form of struggle had also been taken up in a protracted manner.

The documents writers did not beat around the bush in pointing out that the leadership had not only failed to learn lessons from the LTTE and Nepal revolutionary movements, but also dismissed the movements as arising out of specific local conditions. The document submitted in the name of a certain Mr. Sridhar, is believe to have the backing of a powerful Central Committee leader from Andhra Pradesh.

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