Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday extended by one year the ban on the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and six of its affiliates while declaring the Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF), a front organisation of CPI(Maoist), as an "unlawful association".
"The government has reviewed the matter and is of the opinion that the Communist Party of India (Maoist) is continuing to indulge in unlawful activities. Its unlawful activities, if not stopped, will constitute a serious danger and menace to public order, peace and tranquillity," state Chief Secretary Minnie Mathew said in a Government Order issued this afternoon.
The ban on CPI (Maoist) has been extended as per the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Public Security Act, 1992 and would come into effect from August 17, the order said.
CPI (Maoist) offshoots Radical Youth League, Rythu Coolie Sangham, Radical Students Union, Singareni Karmika Samakhya, Viplava Karmika Samakhya and All India Revolutionary Students Federation have also been declared as "unlawful" for a further period of one year from August 17.
The Andhra government had banned the CPI (Maoist) for first time in 2005 and has been extending the ban every year.
The state DGP V Dinesh Reddy had written to the government seeking ban on RDF as well. The RDF came into being upon the merger of All India People`s Resistance Forum and Struggling Forum for People`s Resistance.
According to the Chief Secretary`s order, RDF, which is part of the Tactical United Front, has been indulging in numerous unlawful activities against the state.
The activities included: "Urging people to fight against the police and join the Maoist movement. Opposing and demanding stoppage of anti-extremist combing operations of the police and security forces in the left wing extremism-affected areas of the states, and thereby abetting the violent activities of Maoist and opposing lawful actions of police and criminal justice system. Inciting people to take violence against the democratically elected government established by law," the Chief Secretary said in her order.
PTI
