On Monday, after the Union Home Ministry announced that it was adding the CPI(Maoist) in India’s official list of ‘terrorist organisations’ proscribed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, P Chidambaram sought to draw a distinction. Responding to a question about opposition from Left parties — statements opposing the ban came in from Left Front chairman and CPM state secretary Biman Bose in Kolkata and general secretary Prakash Karat — the Home Minister indicated that he hoped the Left as government would respond differently from the Left as party.

The day after, both the Left-led government and the party seem to be wary of locking horns with the Centre. On Tuesday, the CPI(M)-led Government, the only one among Naxal-hit states not to have outlawed the CPI(Maoist), stated that it ‘accepted’ the ban. But more significantly, a day after sending out the message that it was at odds with the Centre and governments of all other affected states, the CPI(M) itself is playing down the difference, and nuancing its position.

When asked about the ban on the CPI(Maoists), Central Committee member Nilotpal Basu said: “The important issue is to have a consensus against the campaign of violence by the Maoists which is directed against democracy, development and the rule of law. We need to take firm administrative action and take political initiatives to isolate the Maoists from the people.”

Basu emphasised the “pan-Indian” nature of the problem, and “therefore the need for coordination between states and between the states and the Centre.” Significantly, Basu reiterated the CPI(M)’s support of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s assessment of the Naxalites as the “single biggest security challenge to the Indian state”.

... contd.