Former Maoist Leader Devji Seeks Ban on CPI (Maoist) to Be Lifted

Former Maoist leader Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devji has said he and other surrendered former cadres are considering approaching Union Home Minister Amit Shah to seek the lifting of the ban on the CPI (Maoist).

Devji said those who have surrendered want to work openly and within the law on public issues. If the ban is withdrawn, he said, they would like to use the CPI (Maoist) name to pursue public causes through legal and democratic means.

He said he and other former Maoist leaders were discussing the possibility of submitting a representation to the Union Home Minister, with the removal of the ban likely to be their primary demand.

Recently, Devji and several other surrendered Maoist leaders met Telangana DGP C.V. Anand. They requested that police restrictions not be imposed on their movements when they hold small meetings or meet the families of deceased Maoist cadres.

Devji acknowledged that authorities may continue to view them with suspicion but stressed that they would no longer engage in illegal, clandestine or armed activities. He said the DGP had responded positively to their concerns.

For now, the former cadres are reconnecting with old associates and plan to begin working more extensively on public issues after some time. Devji said their proposed activities may not resemble those of conventional parliamentary political parties, but maintained that any organised platform working on people's issues could have a political character.

He argued that the CPI (Maoist) already exists as an organisation and said lifting the ban would allow them to work under the same name within the legal framework.

Devji, who spent more than four decades underground, was a key strategist and served on the Maoist central committee and politburo. He surrendered before Telangana police in February this year along with fellow central committee member Malla Rajireddy, citing health concerns.

At the time, Devji said he was leaving underground life because of health problems and intended to return to the mainstream while continuing to pursue the ideology he believed in within the bounds of the law.

A senior police official had earlier said there was no need to prevent former Maoist members from working among people, provided their activities remained strictly within the legal framework.