Mamata using Maoists for party benefit: Karat

Express news service

Posted online: Sun Sep 12 2010, 03:34 hrs

Chandigarh : CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat on Saturday accused Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee of using the Maoists for her party's benefit prior to the West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled for next year. He said that the Maoist violence in Bengal was targeted at CPM workers and more than 270 of them have been killed.

Addressing a press conference, Karat said that keeping in view the increasing violence by the Maoists, the central government had sent paramilitary forces to the affected areas, but Banerjee demanded that the joint operations be stopped. Instead she held a rally in Lalgarh with the Maoists last month.

"How can the Prime Minister tolerate such a thing? The Centre should specify what is the government's policy on the issue. Our people are campaigning against the Maoists. From tomorrow, we are starting a programme wherein leaders of our party would be going to different parts of the country to inform people about the situation in Bengal," said Karat.

Talking about the court verdict on the Ayodhya title suit to be pronounced later this month by the Allahabad High Court, Karat said that all sections should accept the verdict, whatever it may be. He said that this would be the only solution to the problem.

Karat also touched upon the issue of rotting foodgrain in godowns. "The Supreme Court's direction for distribution of foodgrain free of cost to the people should be complied with. At least in drought-hit areas like Bihar and Orissa, these must be distributed. The judiciary should not encroach on the sphere of the executive. However, in this case the spirit of the judgment should be appreciated. It is an issue pertaining to failure of the Public Distribution System. The families below poverty line should be helped," he said.

Karat demanded withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from urban areas in Srinagar as well as those areas where the situation was returning to normal. He informed that a delegation of the party met the Prime Minister on this issue. He said that a political solution was required to solve the problems in Srinagar.