Noor Zulfikar, alias Noor Sridhar, who has been associated with the revolutionary movement for more than three decades, was chosen by the central committee of CPI (Maoist) as State secretary of Karnataka. However, he refused the post owing to his differences with the Maoists’ path.
The central committee, according to Mr. Sridhar, failed to initiate steps to stem dissent, and ideological disagreement grew after the death of Saketh Rajan in 2005. Sharp differences over the Maoist strategy of the area-wise seizure of power led to a split in the CPI (Maoist) in Karnataka, resulting in the formation of the Karnataka Maovadi Swatantra Kendra in July 2006. But this culminated in the founding of the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) in September 2007.
Excerpts from a conversation with Mr. Sridhar
Q. Can you explain why there was a split in the party?
A. A serious political struggle was gong on in the movement ever since activities began in the Malnad region in 2001. Our opinion was that there was a need for a bold, strong and broad-based mass movement and not an armed struggle in Karnataka. Even though the intention of both schools of thought was to build a strong revolutionary movement, with the aim of creating an egalitarian society, the paths advocated were different.
Even while having regard for the Maoists’ commitment to the cause, we felt that the path they were adopting was not in conformity with the realities and that they were not conducive to building a real revolutionary people’s movement. As we saw no hope of converging on our viewpoints, we came out of the Maoist party and indentified ourselves as the Revolutionary Communist Party.
Armed struggle should not become an obsession when there is scope for organising a people’s struggle on democratic lines. Armed struggle should evolve as an “ultimate tool” and that depends on the response of the State.
Q.Do you completely disagree with the path adopted by the Maoist leadership?
A. The party failed in strengthening the movement in the Hyderabad Karnataka region. This might have been due to short-sighted views, and a “mechanical understanding of and blind commitment” to ideology. We often told the leadership that there was scope for a people’s movement, not for armed struggle. But our opinion was brushed aside, as the central committee was bent upon continuing an armed struggle.
Affected people, who got little relief from the package announced by the government, distanced themselves from the movement. We have lost many lives, including Parvathi, Hajima, Saketh Rajan, in the melee.
Though gunning down six policemen at Venkatammanahalli in Pavagada taluk of Tumkur district by an Andhra Pradesh-based team was for a different reason, the central committee was bent on linking it to the killing of Saketh Rajan by the police. That resulted in an increase in State oppression of the revolutionaries in the Malnad region.
Q.How is RCP preparing for a broad mass-based struggle?
A. After reorganising itself as a new revolutionary centre, the RCP has been involved in consolidating itself ideologically and organisationally for the past seven years. It has taken up a study to take a relook at the past of the Indian Revolution. There is a lot to learn from various social movements witnessed by Karnataka. We committed a blunder by not understanding Ambedkar’s ideological stand. The RCP is now fully concentrating on building an activist force with deep ideological and practical social commitment. Our aim is to build a powerful people’s movement by uniting all likeminded fighting forces in Karnataka, and we have full confidence in achieving it.
Q.Is the RCP ready to participate in electoral politics?
A. That depends on the situation. At present, what society needs is a strong broad-based people’s movement.
