UPA ignoring Trinamool-Maoist alliance, says Karat
By IANSSunday, January 23, 2011
AGARTALA - Marxist leader Parakash Karat Sunday accused the central government of ignoring what he said was an “alliance” between the Trinamool Congress and Maoists in West Bengal.
“Maoist cadres are active in at least seven states and have links with neighbouring countries. It is not possible for any single state or police of one or two states to deal with the problem,” Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters.
He said: “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been saying that the Maoist problem is a serious crisis but his government has turned a blind eye to the open alliance between Trinamool Congress and the Maoist outfits.
“How can the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government tolerate when a union cabinet minister is directly supporting the Maoists,” Karat asked, referring to Trinamool leader and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Karat rejected media reports about the “different lines” of the central and West Bengal CPI-M leaders vis-a-vis the Maoists.
“West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has categorically told Home Minister P. Chidambaram that there might be armed groups in Jangal Mahal but there are no armed camps there.”
Karat addressed the birth centenary celebration of communist leader and former chief minister Nripen Chakraborty Friday and addressed a gathering Saturday in northern Tripura.
