Trinamool hand-in-glove with Maoists: Buddhadeb tells PC

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Friday said that Trinamool Congress was "hand-in-glove" with Maoists and he had conveyed this to Home Minister P Chidambaram, who "did not like it".

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Friday said that Trinamool Congress was "hand-in-glove" with Maoists and he had conveyed this to Home Minister P Chidambaram, who "did not like it".

HT Image

Bhattacharjee also underlined the need for the Centre and the states joining hands to fight the menace, without blaming each other.

"Whenever I meet the Home Minister, I have been telling him that they (Trinamool Congress and Maoists) are working hand-in-glove. There is a serious problem," he told reporters when asked whether it was true that Trinamool was working with Maoists and if he had told Chidambaram about it.

Asked about Chidambaram's response, he said, "As usual he did not like it. The Home Minister does not like any party, any individual, NGO or the media supporting the Maoists."

On the fight against Naxalism, the West Bengal Chief Minister said, "Everybody has own share of responsibility. We should work collectively."

He said it was "not the time to blame anyone, not the time to blame each other" but to "work together" in dealing with Naxalism.

Bhattacharjee said he would talk to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on this issue after his return from a week-long visit to the US and Brazil beginning on Saturday.

"We should revamp our plans and operations," he said, adding his government was trying to improve its operations.

"I am not satisfied with the situation (on account of fight against Maoists). We have to do more," he said.

He declined to say anything when asked whether Naxal leader Kishanji was alive or dead.

The Chief Minister said he had sought special funds from the Planning Commission for developmental works like road connectivity, healthcare and irrigation in Maoist-hit areas.