CPI (M) wants Trinamool to spell out stand on Maoists

Condemning the Maoist raid on a police station in West Midnapore district, the CPI(M) today demanded that Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee spell out her stand on the Maoist menace, accusing her of giving support to them by repeatedly demanding withdrawal of central forces from Lalgarh.

"At a time when the Centre wants to go all out against the Maoists, she has pressured the Centre to withdraw central forces from Lalgarh. The Maoists and the Trinamool Congress have made common cause in whipping up violence and chaos in West Bengal," CPI(M) central committee member Mohammad Selim told a press conference.

"Even though there are two different outfits and two different sets of leadership, the aim of both is to destroy the democratic process," he alleged.

"Let her say categorically if she approved the killings by the Maoists and want the arrest of Maoist leader Kishenji or not," Selim said.

He said Trinamool ally Congress here must also explain its stand on the issue. In the past Maoist leaders had asserted their presence in Singur and Nandigram which were spearheaded by the Trinamool Congress.

Asked why the state government was not banning the CPI (Maoist), Selim said, "Ban is not a panacea".

"We want the anti-Maoist operations by the central paramilitary forces and the state police to be strengthened further," Selim said.