(In reply to various questions put by one of the comrades from Punjab)
On international situation
The rise of third forces and their getting strengthened is the main feature of the international situation today. All the small states are intensifying their own struggles and are proceeding to form a united front at the international level. Struggle has spread to different corners of all countries. I am again emphatically telling, this is an altogether new trend in international situation, which was never seen before. This is the essence of the present situation. Imperialism does not have any other way out, but to wage war. It is backing Japan in Asia and backing India to attack Pakistan. India has captured East Pakistan. True to its own character, it will not stop at that and will increase aggressive activities against the neighbours.
On the national situation and development of armed struggle
True to its own characteristics, the exploiting classes of India have increased their plunder on the people in order to increase their aggressive activities and have intensified their repressive policies. “Wherever there is repression, there is resistance”. Hence people’s resistance will take higher form. Tax has increased, so is exploitation. Revolt will definitely increase. The responsibilities of our party have also increased. The atmosphere is unfavourable to the party. The euphoria around the victory against Pakistan will be over. The euphoria among the middle class has died down and will further die down in future. Our responsibility is to keep the party alive. That is possible only by integrating with the basic masses and by imparting politics deep into them. And then only party will be able to provide leadership over the revolts. So our duty will be to fully strive to keep the party alive. Today a much better situation has arisen for advancing armed struggle.
On keeping the party alive and strengthening it
Have faith on the people. Have faith on the party. The people will not desert you. Whatever may be the situation, the people will not always be on your side. The main thing is depending on the landless-poor peasants, open the door of their initiatives. The comrades of Andhra Pradesh did not resort to this course. As a result, we had to suffer many losses. The squads of landless-poor peasants were not given the full responsibility. Srikakulam is rising again. In my letter “To the comrades of Andhra Pradesh” I have discussed all these. Develop organizers from among the landless-poor peasants. Keep vigil on any impediment to the line of developing leaders from among landless-poor peasants. In that case, we will thus be able to prevent passing of the party leadership into wrong hands. We will be able to prevent the control of the traitors and the enemy agents. That is, we will be able to protect the party. We will be able to establish the leadership of the landless-poor peasants.
Whether small guerilla zones can survive in the present situation and whether they can develop?
Yes, that is definitely possible. Chairman said, “A small area can fight against a big area, a small country can defeat a big country, simply if the people of a small country can firmly resist in order to struggle boldly, lifts the arms into their hands and controls the fate of their own country, then they can definitely defeat the aggression of a big country. This is a historical law.” This means, we do not have a situation which China had to face for long thirty years. What is true for the international situation today, is applicable here also.
On intra-party struggle
It can be said in brief that whoever have been expelled from the party since the Naxalbari struggle upto this day have all launched attack on “annihilation of class enemy” and “the line of armed struggle”. On the other hand, all these revisionists are unanimous on developing mass movements. Some have even started saying that, the situation for starting armed struggle has not arisen in India at all. But I strongly believe that our party will open up the road for mass struggle and will continue with that through armed struggle, i.e. the gun.
March, 1971
[Translated from “Lokyudh” (Punjab)-Publisher]
