BBC NEWS | South Asia | Indian Maoists discuss strategy

Two key Indian Maoist groups are meeting in Calcutta to discuss strategies, delegates said.

The People's War Group (PWG) and the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC), which are active in a number of states, began a three-day forum on Wednesday.

Members of about another 150 leftist organisations are also attending.

Delegates said the two main groups would try to narrow ideological differences and work out a revolutionary unity.

Their leaders remain tight-lipped about what is being discussed but delegates told the BBC the groups had agreed to come closer.

The PWG is preparing for negotiations with some state governments but the MCC still backs an armed struggle.

The groups had agreed to follow a dual policy of negotiating with governments but also improving military capability, delegates said.

Empowerment

One delegate said the groups realised they did not have the capability for "continuous revolutionary warfare" even as they strengthened their armoury and recruited more cadres.


Both factions agreed to morally and physically support the Maoists in Nepal.

The 150 organisations represented, including the All India People's Resistance Forum, the Struggling Forum for People's Resistance and the All India League for Revolutionary Culture, agreed to challenge globalisation and liberalisation of the Indian economy.

They said they would continue struggling for the economic and cultural empowerment of India's working class.

The PWG has considerable influence in Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, while the MCC is strongest in Bihar.

Both groups have pockets of influence in West Bengal.

The Indian federal government is worried about the growing area of influence of leftist groups.

The home ministry recently convened a conference of chief ministers of Maoist-affected states and advocated a coordinated approach to fight them.

However, Andhra Pradesh has established its first direct talks with the PWG, which will begin on 15 October. Sphere: Related Content