Trinamool colluding with Maoists: Bengal CM

CNN-IBN

New Delhi: 19th January, 2011-With less than four months to go for West Bengal Assembly elections, the face off between Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI(M)) and Trinamool Congress is intensifying. West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee came down heavily on the alleged collusion between Maoists and Trinamool Congress in a meeting with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Wednesday.

"I came to Delhi to meet the Home Minister and the Prime Minister. The subject of our discussion with both of them was the problem of Maoists in our state. Maoists were a serious problem in our state. After we had the joint forces things started to change. The joint forces are dominating the areas and normalcy is restored in most of the areas. Government offices, schools and markets are working normally in most of the effected areas," said Bhattacharjee.

He discussed the problems in bordering areas of Jharkhand and Orissa with the Home Minister.

Castigating the Trinamool for its alleged collusion with the Maoists, the West Bengal Chief Minister said that the state government will disarm all armed groups in West Bengal.

"Trinamool Congress is organising public meetings with the Maoists. We have to disarm all armed groups in the state. I told Chidambaram that a dangerous situation is developing. Trinamool is openly colluding with the Maoists," he said.

He also said that Chidmabaram raised the issue of CPI(M) workers in the camps.

"I agreed on two points. Government is firm on disarming all armed groups including those in Jangalmahal. Secondly he raised Netai. I told him that CID is investigating and we have to ensure this is not repeated," he added.

The West Bengal Chief Minister claimed that there were state and central level inputs to show that Trinamool leader had covert meetings for operational strategy and collection of funds. The meeting took place after a letter war between the Centre and West Bengal government over state's worsening law and order situation.