Thirumavalavan, the leader of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), has stirred controversy by promoting and positively portraying the Maoist ideology in good light, which has been banned under the UAPA Act since 2009 as a terrorist organization. This occurred during an event commemorating the 3rd anniversary of Pastor Stan Swamy, who was implicated in activities deemed anti-national and accused of supporting separatism in relation to the Elgar Parishad-Maoists links case. He holds the distinction of being the oldest terror accused in India.
Speaking at the 3rd anniversary event for Stan Swamy organized in T. Nagar on July 13, 2024, Thirumavalavan began his address by expressing VCK’s support for the goals of the gathering: the repeal of the UAPA Act, the withdrawal of all Bhima Koregaon cases and the release of those arrested, and the enactment of legislation in Parliament to safeguard human rights activists. Thirumavalavan then went on to highlight that Stan Swamy was unjustly targeted by being labeled a Maoist. He emphasized that this accusation was used to discredit Swamy’s advocacy, suggesting a bias against left-leaning views among lawmakers.
Thirumavalavan provided a new rationale for the arrest of Maoist ideologues such as Pastor Stan Swamy, “Those who can make laws and those who can implement laws have an ideology, that ideology is right-wing ideas and therefore they see those who have left-wing ideas as being against the government. They see the Maoists in the same way.”
He then accused the right wing of viewing social justice, Dalit freedom, women’s rights, tribal rights activism, and even democracy itself as left-wing ideologies. He suggested that this perspective implies they are opposed to these freedoms and rights. Furthermore, he argued that they therefore embrace fascism in the guise of democracy, likening their approach to Mussolini and Hitler.
Furthermore, he proceeded to commend the outlawed group, such as the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist communist political party and militant organization, for their purported commitment to serving the people’s interests, despite operating clandestinely in the forests due to government suppression. In contrast, those who oppose the people freely roam the streets with weapons under the guise of democracy.
Thirumavalavan said, “They are trying to destroy everyone who is leftist. The Marxist-Leninist organisations organize, politicize and arm the people while the movement is in hiding in the jungles. The government and the bureaucracy will not accept this and suppress it, so hiding is a tactic. Those who fought for the people, their rights, their interests, have to hide in the forests and live. But those who are against the people are using democracy to wield power and openly run in the streets with weapons.”
Later came the shock when Thirumavalavan stated that portraying Maoists as foreigners is false; he asserted they are our own, and we should proudly educate people about their positive contributions. He emphasized that despite operating clandestinely and being perceived as anti-government, Maoists are actually fighting for the rights and freedoms of the working people. He argued that defeating right-wing politics requires reframing the narrative away from labeling Maoists as merely anti-government or anti-people.
Thirumavalavan expressed, “The leftist or Maoist politics here are not anti-people. We need to speak high about this. They are trying to alienate this, we should speak high that Maoists are ours and they are not against the people. They may be absconding or engaging in illegal activities but their aim, agenda, target is the interests and liberation of the working people.”
He then posed the question, “Which Maoist has been against the people?” and continued, “We will never be able to subvert right-wing politics as long as we watch this Maoist alienation as a anti-people or anti-national or criminal.”
Prior to this, Thirumavalavan referred to the subscribers of Hindutva ideology as ‘Sanatana Terrorists‘.
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