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'Maoists behind violence aided by Trinamool'
The ruling Left Front in West Bengal today alleged that the Trinamool Congress was preparing the ground for Maoists and using them for perpetration of violence in the state.
The ruling Left Front in West Bengal today alleged that the Trinamool Congress was preparing the ground for Maoists and using them for perpetration of violence in the state.
The Front submitted a memorandum to a visiting Central team accusing the Maoists of being behind the violence.
Maoists, termed as the "main threat to internal security by the highest echelons of the government", are the main actor behind the violence, said the memorandum, signed by Front chairman Biman Bose and addressed to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.
The memorandum, submitted along with photographs and audiovisuals of violence, alleged that the Trinamool was preparing the ground for Maoists and using them for perpetration of violence.
The activities of Left wing ultras were not possible without the help of Trinamool, it said and also criticised a section of intellectuals saying "their opinion is also providing a fertile ground for expansion of the Maoist network and putting hindrance to the joint operation by state and central forces."
Earlier in the day, Bose said the central team's visit was 'unnecessary'. "There was no need to despatch the central team without consultation with the state government. Trinamool Congress has been conspiring over the visit."
He also dared the Centre to impose President's Rule. "The people of the state are ready to face the challenge if the Centre feels that it will invoke Article 356 in the state."
On Chidambaram's remark that the central team was being despatched to assist the state government, he said, "We can only accept it at face value that despatching such a team is not a step for imposing Article 356."
Asked to clarify if the team had come to 'assist' or 'assess' law and order, Chief Secretary Asok Mohan Chakraborty replied, "It is here to assist the state government and that does not mean we have failed. Assistance ensures better functioning."
The team was briefed about violence in the state since the Lok Sabha elections. The state government urged the team not to withdraw the six additional companies of central forces at Lalgarh for tackling Maoists and sought more forces for deployment elsewhere.
The team would meet district magistrates and police superintendents of Hooghly, West and East Midnapore, South and North 24 Parganas, Burdwan, Darjeeling, Birbhum and Bankura tomorrow morning.
On discussions with the team headed by Additional Secretary (Home) D R S Chowdhury, he said "discussions took place on four factors of destabilisation -- law and order, Maoist violence, the Darjeeling problem and the Adivasi problem in the Dooars."
He said except the Left Front, no political party submitted any memorandum.
There was no decision as yet if the state government would submit a report to the Centre at the end of the visit.
Earlier, IGP (Law and Order) S Karpurakayastha, described the meeting as 'constructive'.
