Left, Didi take Mao-Mao to PM

NEW DELHI: The political battle in West Bengal on Friday landed at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s doorstep. While the Leftists demanded action against the Trinamool Congress that has a “cosy relationship with the Maoists”, Mr Banerjee and her MPs asked the prime minister to deploy the armed forces in the state’s “disturbed areas”. Both sides carried documents to buttress their respective viewpoints.

On his part, the prime minister gave a “patient hearing” to both the rivals and is understood to have told each of them that their grievances will be looked into. Mr Singh also expressed concern over the violence in the state.

Claiming that they had presented evidence of “links” between the Trinamool Congress and the Maoists through documents and CDs, Left leaders said Mr Singh had assured them that these would be given to the home ministry to be thoroughly examined. They said the Trinamool Congress was using violence to expand its political base in the state.

“The prime minister has been repeating that the Maoists are the biggest threat to India’s internal security. But on the other hand, members of his own cabinet and the Trinamool Congress are not only openly engaging with but are patronising the Maoists,” CPM polit bureau member Sitaram Yechury told reporters later. He said this had been conveyed to the Prime Minister as well.

Ms Banerjee alleged that CPM had links with the Maoists and submitted a 155-page document, in which there were accusations of excesses by the Left Front government in West Bengal. With the home minister ruling out imposition of President’s Rule in the state, the Trinamool Congress has now veered its strategy towards
aiming for getting assembly elections advanced in the state.

“We don’t want Article 356 to be imposed so that elections are advanced. But the state government must follow raj dharma. A state government cannot kill people like this. We have handed over all the documents to the PM, including how 35 Trinamool workers have been killed,” Ms Banerjee said. To a question if she was persisting with the demand for imposition of President’s Rule in the state, she said, “we want genocide to stop and that rule of the law must prevail.”

She demanded deployment of army in West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura to recover arms being used by the Maoists and restore law and order in the area.

“We told the prime minister everything and handed over all details regarding the continuous violence unleashed by these elements. We want protection of minorities, people from weaker sections, women and others who are targeted under the CPM rule,” she said. She said CPM is “CPI (Marxist) in the day and CPI (Maoist) at night.”