CPI(M) accuses Trinamool of taking to streets to shield Maoists

The CPI(M) today accused the Trinamool Congress of taking to the streets to shield Maoists described by the prime minister as the biggest threat to the country and charged the Centre with being concerned only with numbers and adopting a policy of not seeing anything.

"The centre has a role to play, but it has taken a policy of not seeing anything as what it requires is the numbers (to run the government). It has its intelligence agencies. There are media reports. We are also saying this (Trinamool-Maoist link) repeatedly," CPI(M) central committee member Mohammad Salim told reporters in Kolkata.

Salim said the Centre should suo motu take note of railway minister Mamata Banerjee's street demonstrations demanding withdrawal of joint forces though the prime minister has described the Maoist menace as the biggest danger to the country.

Banerjee had organised a procession here on Saturday demanding withdrawal of joint forces.

He also cited the visit of Union minister Mukul Roy to the families of Bishwanath Mahato and Pradip Mahato, the two members of the Maoist-backed People's Committee against Police Atrocity (PCPA), who were killed last week.

"This proves that Trinamool Congress and PCPA are on the same platform," he said.

He said Union home minister P Chidambaram should speak out when one of his cabinet colleagues was demanding withdrwal of joint forces in line with Maoist leader Kishenji.

Salim said that by raising the bogey of terror Trinamool was trying to create an atmosphere for the promulgation of Article 356 in the state.