'Call me to drop arms': Bhupathi's appeal to Maoists in 5-minute video message

NAGPUR: Top surrendered Maoist Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Bhupathi, 69, in a five-minute video, made a fervent appeal to the insurgents still holed up in the jungles to give up arms and join the mainstream.Bhupathi emphasised that the failed armed struggle led to the Maoists' alienation from the masses and triggered their downfall. But, the Maoists' apex body was not keen to embrace change.This is the first time the former seniormost politburo member spoke publicly after he surrendered along with 60 cadres before Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis in Gadchiroli on October 15.Bhupathi appealed to his former comrades to approach him or Satish (another top surrendered Naxal) through their mobile phone numbers, which he shared in the video, to seek assistance for quitting the movement and surrendering."Our stepping out of the movement is a reflection of the changing scenario. Our decision to join mainstream was the call of the changing times," Bhupathi said in the video. "We lost many of our colleagues in this armed struggle, which is no longer relevant now and that led us to abandon it," he said."Those who are still in pursuit of dominating an area or gaining power should give up now and join the mainstream to work for the masses in a peaceful society," Bhupathi said.

"The situation has changed. On Sept 16, we first talked about giving up arms, following which my colleagues in Gadchiroli, Madh (Abujmarh division), and east Bastar also issued similar statements. Now, we want to help people in a peaceful manner, and join us if you want to do the same," he added.The Maoist central committee had last week released a press communication lambasting Bhupathi and his colleagues for quitting the movement for "luxury in life".

They branded Bhupathi and another senior Maoist, Rupesh, as "traitors". In Saturday's video, Bhupathi trashed the allegation, and said: "Think calmly about our decision."Bhupathi's move to quit the movement led to mass surrender in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, too, where about 210 Maoists laid down arms, including Rupesh.Later, on Oct 28, two more big leaders - Pullari Prasad (Chandranna) and Bundi Prakash (Prabhat) -surrendered in Telangana.