SAR Geelani's CRPP a Maoist front: Government

The government on Wednesday named Committee for Release of Political Prisoners led by Delhi University teacher S A R Geelani, who was acquitted in Parliament attack case, as a Communist Party of India (Maoist) front organisation.

The reference to CRPP as a Maoist front organisation came in a written reply in Rajya Sabha by Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Home Affairs.

Admitting that several Left wing extremist organisations, including CPI-Maoist, and their front outfits are active in Delhi, Singh, however, said there were no inputs available to indicate the presence of Naxal sleeper cells in the city.

The minister said the CPI (Maoist) operated in the capital through its Delhi City Committee.

Singh said, besides CPI (Maoist), several other Left wing extremist groups like CPML (New Democracy) as well as CPML-Liberation were active in Delhi.

"Besides, front organisation of CPI (Maoist) like Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF), Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners, People's Democratic Front of India (PDFI and (JNU-based) Democratic Students Union (DSU) etc are active in Delhi," Singh said.

CRPP Public Relations Secretary Rona Wilson denied any links with Maoists saying they take up issues of all political prisoners, including those of Muslims, adivasis and Maoists.

"We condemn this linking with Maoists. One cannot be branded like this. It is an attempt to castigate and insulate groups who are talking against government. It is to create a sense of fear among people," Wilson alleged.

Denying any links with Maoists, RDF's G N Saibaba alleged that the government was trying to impose restrictions on organisations raising voice for people.

"We may have identical political positions on certain issues. It does not mean that we are linked to Maoists. RDF to which I belong does not have any links with Maoists," he said.

DSU's Banajyotsana termed it as "absolutely baseless" the remarks linking the students' body to Maoists saying it was an attempt to brand "genuine voices" in favour of people.

"We are an independent organisation. We do raise issues. Such voices are being branded," Banajyotsana said.