Hyderabad
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has warned Telangana politicians to end any alleged links with Maoists. Posting on ‘X’, he said, “Telangana politicians, consider this a warning. Those supporting armed networks while preaching democracy should cut ties or face exposure. Central agencies won’t stop at Maoist cadres.”
He said the Centre, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, is tracing networks that protect corruption, crime, and extremism. He warned that no leader, however powerful, would be spared if found supporting Maoists. “Even the tallest leaders will fall if they stand on the wrong side,” he stated.
This comes after senior Maoist leader Mallojula Venugopal alias Bhupathi surrendered in Maharashtra, revealing alleged secret ties between some Telangana politicians and Maoist groups. Bhupathi, a CPI (Maoist) politburo member with a ₹6 crore reward, surrendered with 60 others before Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on October 15. He told police that the Maoist movement was breaking due to internal conflicts and deviation from its original goal of helping tribals and the poor.
Bandi Sanjay earlier said that “Naxalism is collapsing.” He shared that since January 2024, 2,100 Maoists have surrendered, 1,785 were arrested, and 477 were killed. Recently, 258 cadres surrendered in two days across Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. He reaffirmed that the government aims to completely eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026.