Maoist ideologue says ‘plot’ to assassinate PM concocted to prop up Modi’s image

Revolutionary writer and Maoist ideologue P Vara Vara Rao on Friday rubbished the Pune police’s claims that they have seized an incriminating letter that quotes him as being part of a Narendra Modi.

The Pune police told a court on Thursday that they had seized a letter from the Delhi residence of Rona Wilson Jacob, one of the five people arrested on Wednesday for having alleged links with the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). Besides discussing the possibility of a “Rajiv Gandhi-like incident” involving Modi, the letter also mentions a plan to purchase M-4 rifles and four lakh rounds of ammunition at a cost of Rs 8 crore.

The letter then goes on to cite Rao and Surendra Gadling, an advocate who was also arrested by the Pune police in Mumbai, as the Maoists’ guiding force in carrying out successful attacks. A mention was also made of Rao and Gadling allegedly arranging funds for the purpose.

Speaking to mediapersons in Hyderabad, Rao said he knew Gadling and Jacob but was not involved in any plot to kill Modi. “The people arrested by the Pune police had all been working for the downtrodden and the release of political prisoners. They are not involved in murder politics,” he added.

Alleging that the plot was concocted by the Pune police to prop up Modi’s image, Rao said Maoists in the country do not have the practical ability to assassinate the Prime Minister. “In any case, I have absolutely nothing to do with the claims made in the letter. The police cannot do anything other than arrest me and foist false cases against me,” said Rao.