Mamata Banerjee must accept mistake about Maoists: Biman Bose

West Bengal's Left Front chairman Biman Bose Sunday asked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to accept her "mistake" for ignoring the Maoists during her days as opposition leader.

"Earlier she used to say there are no Maoists. Now she is talking about Maoist presence in the state and ceasefire and laying down of arms and sometimes challenging them. Now the question is which one is correct, what she said earlier or what she said now," asked Bose, while talking to reporters here.

Banerjee on Saturday gave a seven-day ultimatum to Maoist rebels in the state to choose between dialogue and arms. Asserting that politics of murder and negotiations cannot go together, Banerjee said soon after coming to power in May, her government sought peace, but the ultras did not stop the bloodshed.

"She must accept what she earlier said was wrong. Everyday in the media we are reading about reports that Maoists have gained ground in Junglemahal area. Earlier there was a pact between Maoists and Trinamool Congress against the Left Front. Now Trinamool is trying to change its position. So they are taking about negotiations," said Bose. "Maoist problem is a political problem. It has to be dealt with politically," said Bose.