In a rare instance of unanimity between the positions taken by the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) and Chief Ministers of the Maoist-affected States, the guerrillas have demanded that the Centre withdraw its proposal to create a unified National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
The rebels have called a nation-wide “bandh” on May 16 to protest against the proposed NCTC, the continuance of anti-Maoist operations and the creation of an Army training camp in southern Chhattisgarh.
In a release dated May 2, 2012, signed by Maoist spokesperson Abhay, the party claimed that the motive behind the NCTC is “to crush with more centralised methods the people of our country fighting on their issues and for democratic rights.”
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Seeking to locate their movement within a broad spectrum of resistance, the Maoists expressed concern that the NCTC could be used against those “resisting the attacks of the Hindu chauvinists and Hindu fundamentalism, the nationality movements fighting for self-determination of the nationalities, including the right to secession, and in particular, the Maoist movement.”