The rise of Neha Bora in the ongoing protests has brought the ideological background of AISA and CPI (ML)-Liberation into focus. The historical legacy of the Naxalite movement and the growing debate over Urban Naxalism raise questions about student politics, constitutional institutions and the limits of political protest
Milind Mahajan
Ever since the “Cockroach Janata Party” agitation began, Neha Bora’s name has been heard across the country every day. Television channels have also been focusing on her. It is important to understand the background of Neha Bora and her organisation, AISA. This will help explain why Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a statement against “Dimagi Naxal” from the Red Fort on August 15.
A look at the history of Neha Bora, the All India Students’ Association (AISA) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation [CPI (ML)-Liberation] shows that their roots are connected to the Naxalite-Maoist organisation led by Charu Majumdar. The CPI (ML)-Liberation emerged from the Naxalite movement, and AISA is its student wing. Neha Bora is the national president of this student organisation. This makes it clear that Neha Bora is an important young leader of CPI (ML)-Liberation, which conclusively establishes that Neha Bora belongs to the Naxalite-Maoist camp.
From the Communist Split to Naxalbari
The Communist Party of India was founded in 1925. Since all the leaders in the Communist Party considered themselves intellectuals, they could never get along with one another—and the situation remains the same today. Consequently, the Communist Party has repeatedly split. Some so-called intellectuals in the Communist Party of India mortgaged their fertile minds at Stalin’s feet in Moscow, while the remaining intellectuals surrendered theirs at the feet of Mao Zedong in Beijing. These differences led to a split in the Indian Communist movement in 1964, when the Communist Party of India divided into two factions: CPI and CPI (Marxist). It is important to remember that Charu Majumdar was a leader of CPI (Marxist) when he launched the violent movement in Naxalbari.
Charu Majumdar unleashed widespread violence in Naxalbari and across parts of Bengal and Bihar. Hundreds of people were murdered in broad daylight. He attempted to establish his notorious “annihilation theory”, which called for the killing of all class enemies. CPI (Marxist), reportedly out of some embarrassment over this extreme violence, expelled him from the party. Charu Majumdar subsequently founded CPI (ML) and continued the violence on a wider scale. It is important to remember that CPI (Maoist), the Maoist organisation active in Bharat today, still regards Charu Majumdar as its founder and ideal. Charu Majumdar died on July 28, 1972. After his death, his staunch follower Vinod Mishra founded the CPI (ML)-Liberation faction on July 28, 1974, the second death anniversary of Charu Majumdar. Even today, the party’s office in Delhi is named “Charu Bhavan”. This makes it clear that CPI (ML)-Liberation, AISA and Neha Bora belong to the same Maoist lineage.
Other political parties are attempting to advance their own interests by projecting Neha Bora as a Maoist cadre to the forefront. Yogendra Yadav has reportedly stated that the country will not be governed through the Lok Sabha but through street protests. Prashant Bhushan, sitting alongside Neha Bora and Abhijeet Dipke, publicly told journalists that overthrowing the Government of India was their objective. What should those who attempt to overthrow a government elected in accordance with the Constitution through multiparty elections be called, if not traitors?
Electoral Support and Political Opposition
Neha Bora and her party received the support of only 0.12 per cent of voters in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and did not win a single parliamentary seat. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the party won two seats and received the support of only 0.28 per cent of voters. It is important to understand that CPI (ML)-Liberation, which did not receive even half a per cent of the country’s votes, and Neha Bora are now attempting to bring down a government elected by the majority of voters.
It is unfortunate that the Congress party led by Rahul Gandhi, whose earlier leadership had presided over the ruthless suppression of Naxalites during the 1960s and 1970s, is now bowing before these Naxalites and Maoists.
The Charge of Urban Naxalism
Neha Bora and similar Maoists do not accept the Indian Constitution at all. Their objective is to continuously attack constitutional institutions, destroy the entire constitutional system and establish a primitive Maoist state in its place. The position regarding Neha Bora, CPI (ML)-Liberation and Urban Naxalism should now be clear. The plan of these Urban Naxalites is to establish different social organisations in urban areas and continuously organise large-scale agitations. We are witnessing this every day.
Several international organisations are continuously attempting to create instability and chaos in Bharat and establish a weak, debilitated and subservient government. Their Indian agents, nurtured by these organisations, take to the streets and create a spectacle every day. It is now imperative for the sensible, ordinary people of Bharat to unite and firmly oppose these anarchist forces. The future of the next generation, particularly Gen Z, depends on this.
It is essential for the Government of India, security forces, social organisations and the wider society to unite and protect the country from anarchy. Ordinary citizens must now rise against these anarchists and crush them.
