Two Cong MPs oppose TC demand on anti-Maoist operations

NEW DELHI: Two Congress MPs on Wednesday openly distanced themselves from the Trinamool Congress demand for withdrawal of joint security operations against Maoists in West Bengal.

The MPs, Mausam Noor and Abu Hassen Khan Chowdhury, told reporters that the demand for withdrawal of Central and state security forces "by Trinamool Congress chief (Mamata Banerjee) is a matter between the state government and the Centre".

"We would not like to comment about the same," Chowdhury and Noor said. They represent the Maldah Dakshin and Maldaha Uttar constituencies respectively.

Observing that the Congress was today holding a peace march in the violence-hit Lalgarh area of the state, Chowdhury said, "Our effort is to bring peace in the area where the major sufferers have been the tribals who have been caught in the cross-fire between Maoists and communists for no fault of theirs".