Artist's book on TMC flip-flops

KOLKATA: Jadavpur University alumnus Debalina Chakraborty, who was arrested as a Maoist leader last year, was a regular to meetings at the Trinamool party office in Tiljala. The shocking fact has been revealed by theatre artist Manik Mondal in his recent book 'NijerDhak'.....

Interestingly, the author himself was arrested as a Maoist in 2010 from a Jangalmahal village and has spent more than 40 days in jail. On page 165 of his book, Mondal states that he used to assist present Trinamool leader Dola Sen during meetings to maintain a register of the participants. "I saw several Maoist leaders in the meetings," he writes, adding that some of the Maoist leaders also attended meetings where CM Mamata Banerjee used to be present.

"I know that Maoists had helped Trinamool a lot till the assembly election," writes Mondal, going on to talk about the Nandigram movement....

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Artist's book on TMC flip-flops

Isolate ‘Maoists’ Politically for Enduring Peace in Jangal Mahal

By Nilotpal Basu

ULTIMATELY, the truth has come out. Not that it was not known;  but now that it has come straight from the, so to say, horse’s mouth;  the chief minister of West Bengal and the Trinamool Congress supremo has eventually lashed out at the ‘Maoists’ for their heinous crime of engineering the Ganeshwari Express tragedy  which took the toll of 148 innocent lives. Contrary to what she has been claiming all this while that the CPI(M) and the Left was responsible for the tragedy to defame her and the Railway ministry – she has ultimately conceded that it was clearly the handiwork of the ‘Maoists’. 

What is the provocation for this belated ‘discovery’? Two activists of the Trinamool Congress had been gunned down by a ‘Maoist’ squad in a hamlet on the foothills of Ajodhya in Purulia district – an integral part of the jangal mahal area in West Bengal which continues to remain infested by ‘Maoist’ activity. There is no doubt that these were murders most vile and all right thinking people would condemn these with all the strength that one can muster.  The bodies of these hapless victims were brought to Kolkata and in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi – the `apostle of peace’ – that the chief minister blurted out her ‘pearls of wisdom’.     

The travails of the TMC and its maverick supremo are not only bizarre as one would think. It is at the same time extremely sinister. The growth of the ‘Maoists’ – obviously, not in terms of popular support but its depredations and mindless violence in the districts adjoining the Jharkhand and Orissa borders – was quite strange. Any avid reading of the history of Left adventurism in the country makes one to come to an interesting conclusion. While Naxalbari was the cradle of the Left adventurist movement in the country and the CPI(M) and  the Left suffered most due to its violence in the late sixties and early seventies, the movement completely petered out, particularly after the Left Front assumed office in West Bengal in 1977.  The agrarian reforms and the protection and consolidation of the democratic rights of the working people completely isolated the Naxalites in the state.  The resumption of their activities in early parts of the first decade of the new century started as armed incursions from Jharkhand initially and later on from Orissa. The thickly forested jungles on the borders of these states provided the natural cover, as well as, the strategic base that the ‘Maoists’ needed to move on to West Bengal. 

The Left had from the very beginning, maintained that the ‘Maoist’ movement cannot be treated merely as a challenge to law and order.  Their involvement in these forest fringe areas was not because of their compassion for the poor and the tribals who suffered from locational disadvantage and consequent comparative lack of development.  Despite this, the agrarian reforms and other benefits of decentralisation had expanded social sector development.  It is because of this, the Left had always been politically strong in these areas.  Premised on these experiences, the Left, therefore, argued for facing the challenge of ‘Maoist’ violence through a three pronged response; first, on the question of targeted socio-economic development, secondly on the question of political-ideological offensive to isolate them from the people- and finally, based on these two, to initiate administrative actions of the security forces that would finally be successful in containing the violence.

As opposed to this, the central government had always pitched for all out administrative confrontation.  The home minister, P Chidambaram, the fountainhead of such an exclusively confrontationist approach even mooted the idea of deploying the military and the air force to snuff out the ‘Maoists’. 

However, the maverick TMC supremo was totally opposed to the very idea of taking on the ‘Maoists’.  Because she understood that in order to undermine and weaken the Left in these areas which have traditionally been the bastion of the Left, the ‘Maoists’ could prove to be her hatchet men.  The ‘Maoists’ – the opportunists that they are – found these to be extremely convenient.  Their complete ideological bankruptcy and penchant for military strategy created conditions for the coming together of these two forces. West Bengal’s recent history – from the ‘Maoists’ involvement in the Nandigram agitation and the present West Bengal chief minister’s open dalliance with the ‘Maoists’ in Lalgarh - the alliance was eventually made official.  The media savvy ‘Maoist’ Polit Bureau member Kishanji announced from behind his masked face that the ‘Maoists’ would love to see the TMC supremo as the next chief minister of West Bengal in an interview to Ananda Bazar Patrika before elections. 

This was music to her ears.  This made her to claim that there are no ‘Maoists’ in West Bengal.  And, she was not even acknowledging the killings of hundreds of CPI(M) and Left activists and leaders who were being snuffed out by these ‘Maoist’ marauders.  And, she did everything possible to politically delegitimise the operation of the state and central joint security forces to protect the life and livelihood of innocent citizens who were at the receiving end of the mindless ‘Maoist’ violence. 

The complicity was so complete that while the ‘Maoists’ had hijacked a train, the Rajdhani Express, the Railways under her charge did not even mention the ‘Maoist’ involvement in the complaint that the department filed.  And, finally, came the shocking allegation in the wake of the Gyaneshwari tragedy. Not only did she claim that these gruesome deaths of the Ganeshwari passengers were not the result of ‘Maoist’ depredation but actually they have been done by the CPI(M) and the Left to discredit the Railway Ministry! The intellectuals – the `civil society’ her close band of trumpeters for `political change’ in fact went a step further.  They actually called a press conference on the eve of a crucial municipal election in Kolkata and directly charged the CPI(M) of engineering the tragedy.  These intellectuals – of whom some are now even part of the cabinet of the present West Bengal government – justified their position by claiming that ‘Maoists’ did not explicitly take the responsibility for the incident. 

Now that the TMC supremo has assumed the chief minister’s office, she has to reconcile with the harsh cold reality. She thought that the zeal with which the ‘Maoists’ had worked overtime to see her in the office that she holds today would continue to do so even after the objective has been secured.  But, as we know, the ‘Maoists’ show extreme opportunism in siding with this or that bourgeois political party for carrying on with violent methods to physically eliminate all political opposition.  The ‘Maoists’ clearly had an agenda that they would use the TMC to ensure the physical elimination of the CPI(M) and the Left  to facilitate their own physical stranglehold over a region which had remained a bastion of the Left.

CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST

But, now the chickens have come home to roost.  The latest dramatic turn of events saw the felling of that very ‘Maoist’ leader who once wanted to anoint the TMC supremo as the incumbent chief minister of West Bengal.  This is the real irony.  The operation of the joint security forces which was held back for almost five months had to be ultimately allowed since the ‘Maoists’ were not sparing the TMC functionaries once they had been able to regroup with the relief that the new government had provided.  The process of the so-called negotiations which was bound to fail because of the pan Indian nature of the ‘Maoist’ activity also further emboldened them. 

It is in this background that the gun battle ensured in the forests of Burisole which has by now become a household name – as the site which marked the elimination of Kishanji.  In a way, this was inevitable.  Far from being a revolutionary movement, which the ‘Maoists’ claim to lead, apparently he found himself thoroughly isolated and encircled – that is what the security forces had claimed. 

But strangely, neither the chief minister nor any of her top ranking officials from the police or the general administration had come out with any authentic version over the sequence of events which led to the elimination of Kishanji immediately after the announcement of the incident. More than anybody else, it is their supporters – particularly those sections of liberal persuasion – some of them even sympathetic to the ‘Maoist’ cause have come out quite sharply against the same government and the security forces for having done what they did. 

In doing this, they seem to have taken a leaf out of chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s book of records. She did exactly this in questioning the elimination of Azad – the spokesman of the ‘Maoists’. She had actually demanded enquiry into Azad’s `murder’ not only outside but also in the parliament itself. In fact, directed by the court, an inquiry is still going on about this incident.

Now that Kishanji has been eliminated, the same charges are being leveled.  It is being alleged that the security forces had him in custody and this amounts to a `cold blooded murder of a prisoner in custody’.  It is now for the state government to clarify the real course of development transparently.  Rule of law would require that of her government.

However, in a public meeting recently, the chief minister has claimed that the security forces had encircled Kishanji for three continuous days.  The forces had also made an announcement over a public address system that he would be allowed a safe way out . But according to her, he did not respond positively and fired back.  This is what led to the armed confrontation which saw her one time `well wisher’ dead.

SINISTER RELATIONSHIP

The convergence of purpose which brought the TMC and the ‘Maoists’ together to eliminate the Left – does no longer exist.  The functional alliance appears to have come unstuck.  And, therefore, this belated admission over Gyneshwari Express tragedy and this renewed restoration of the joint security forces’ operation leading to the elimination of Kishanji. 

But the tenuous exercise to try and balance the relationship between these two sinister forces had continued for the last few months since the new government in West Bengal had assumed office, now seems to be finally over.  The group of interlocutors who had been officially appointed by the state government to carry out the discussions with the ‘Maoists’ have finally thrown up their hands. And, in the statement issued recently expressing their inability to carry on the process, they have squarely blamed the state government for having killed Kishanji `in cold blood’.

The course of the sinister alliance has really come to complete its vicious circle.  Sadly, the TMC and some of their grassroot level activists who are also poor and vulnerable have also now come to suffer from the mindless violence of the ‘Maoists’. 

But the chief minister is not prepared to accept the reality. While she has lambasted the ‘Maoists’ and their liberal sympathisers who don the mantle of  the human rights organisations for failing to condemn the death and killings of hapless victims of the mindless ‘Maoist’ violence – even going to the extent of pointing out that a large number of activists of the Left had  suffered – she failed to concede that she herself had shown similar proclivities.

To compound her almost criminal negligence in shielding the ‘Maoists’ – she is actually still maintaining that the CPI(M) and the ‘Maoists’ are in league.  This is not withstanding the fact that after the Lok Sabha elections alone almost 250 CPI(M) activists and leaders mostly poor and tribals laid down their lives in the course of taking on the political and ideological challenge of the ‘Maoists’.  But still there is time. The  threat that ‘Maoist’ violence poses to the life and livelihood of the most downtrodden sections of the society in the remotest jungles of West Bengal can only be repulsed by the joining of forces. The unity of all political parties who believe in the rule of law and securing life of the people must act together to isolate the ‘Maoists’.  It is the only enduring way to establish peace.   And, elimination of a single individual – however important he may be – cannot mark the end to the mindless violence which the ‘Maoists’ had been perpetrating.  The restoration of legitimate political activities of all political forces in the affected areas of jangal mahal area is the only rational course to achieve that objective.

People’s Democracy, December 04, 2011

'Mamata failed to deliver on promises to Maoists'

Last Updated: Sunday, October 16, 2011, 11:31 

Ashok Jiban, Jhargram: Spokesperson of the People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA), Ashok Jiban, has said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has failed to deliver on the promises she made to the Maoists before the state elections.

While reacting to recent statements by Mamata Banerjee, Jiban said: "She (Banerjee) talked about peace during her visit here. We also want peace and for making the environment conducive for peace she will have to keep her promises and then the process of continuous discussions will bring back permanent peace here."

 

He also said that the Maoist prisoners arrested during the conflicts must be released as was promised earlier.

"First we want withdrawal of the security forces, then we want the unconditional release of all the prisoners and withdrawal of false cases. In the past, when the CPI(M) established a new government, they released prisoners without any condition. Uttar Pradesh government also released prisoners on her birthday, recently the Orissa government also released prisoners and the military junta government of Myanmar controlled by Army also released 6300 prisoners. They all didn't establish their respective governments with any promises but the Chief Minister of West Bengal made these promises before the elections," he added.

Jiban also said that Banerjee's call to the Maoists to give up arms is a farce as there are other gangs controlled by political parties, which need to be disbanded.

"The Chief Minister said that the rebels have given up arms. But the people don't have any arms. It is in the hands of the CPI(M)'s Harmad. It is in the TMC's (Trinamool Congress) Bhairab Bahini's hands. Arms are also in the Maoist's hands, but Maoists are not like the Harmad and Bhairab gangs because they have their own ideals. They should not be compared with these gangs under any circumstances. But these gangs attack villages regularly so their arms must be seized first," he asserted.

ANI

Buddhadeb writes to Chidambaram on 'Trinamool-Maoist nexus'

NDTV Correspondent,

Updated: February 03, 2011

New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today wrote to the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on suspected Maoists sheltering in Trinamool Congress run relief camps.

After two inmates of a Trinamool-run relief camp were arrested by joint security forces on Monday for alleged links with Maoists, Bhattacharjee had issued a late night statement saying that he would inform the Home Minister about 'Trinamool-Maoist nexus' and would be forced to take administrative steps against Trinamool leaders involved in sheltering Maoists.

Mamata Banerjee had said that she too would inform the Centre about the incident. On the arrest of the alleged Maoists, she said the entire incident was the handiwork of pro-CPM police forces.

Alleging arbitrary action of the joint forces, Trinamool Congress activists had blocked the station road in the town, stalling traffic movement for hours after the arrest.

TRANSLATION OF EXCERPTS FROM TRINAMOOL CONGRESS MP, KABIR SUMAN’S BOOK

ANNEXURE – III

 

TRANSLATION OF EXCERPTS FROM TRINAMUL CONGRESS MP, KABIR SUMAN’S BOOK: “NISHANER NAAM TAPASHI MALIK” (THE NAME OF THE FLAG IS TAPASI MALIK)

 

“DEDICATION

• Friend and activist Asim Giri

• Ordinary supporters of all political parties who lose their lives, habitats and dignity in political clashes

• Leader of CPI(Maoist) Kishenji, who has honoured me by proposing my name as a mediator in the peace talks between the Indian Government and Maoists”

Pages 147-148:

“A meeting of the krishijomi-raksha committee (save farmland committee) was held at Trinamul Bhavan on 6th November (2007). I hired a car to reach there. When Asim and I reached there, we found several eminent persons. Retired IAS officers Debabrata Bandopadhyaya and Murshed were there….Those present at the meeting at Trinamul Bhavan included Trinamul leaders Sougata Roy, Sovandeb Chatterjee, PDS leader Samir Putatunda, two activists Raja Sarkhel and Prasun Chtterjee who are presently in jail charged under the draconian UAPA, Bhaskar Gupta and Anup Banerjee of TASAM organisation, Naxalites Purnendu Bose, Pradeep Banerjee and Dola Sen and many others. I was so excited and angry that I could not notice properly who else were there.

I had a few words with Mamata in an adjacent room a while back in the presence of Sunanda Sanyal. Mamata was visibly angry. I told her – After what I saw in Satengabari and the way the CPIM is indiscriminately attacking and killing the villagers there, I cannot think about anything else other than armed resistance….”

Some Informations on Maoist – TMC links: Annexure II

1. Kartick Deb Singha, S/O Kumed Deb Singha of Jamirgot, Post- Madhupur PS Salboni, Paschim Medinipur an active member of TMC since 2002 and was nominated as Anchal President of Anchal No -1, Debagram GP of Salboni Block Committee of TMC in 2006. CPI(Maoist activists namely Akash, Master, Bijoy, Gopal, Rakhal, Swapan, Singrai Tudu, Swapnadi, LAxmi, Chottu and others met Kartick Deb Singha several times as instigated him to create a base of PSBJC backed by them in Jamirgot, Garrah, Birvanpur and its adjacent villages under his leadership. He tried to kill police on a number of occasions. KAnchan Debsingha and Santu Debsingha both of village Madhupur-Namopara are active TMC leaders have close association with Kartick Deb Singha.

2. Subal Mahato, Indrajit Mahato, Trilochan Mahato, Saktipada Mahato, Karuna Sidhu Mahato, Jogeswar Mahato, Tapan Guchhait were arrested by BSF from Buripala under Salboni PS. Later on District President of TMC claimed that they were all TMC supporters.

3. Gobinda De who was killed in police encounter on 20/06/09 was TMC follower as claimed by TMC party.

4. Dipak Pramanik of Debra PS was kidnapped by CPI(maosit) activists on 24/07/09 from Pidrakulli under Salboni PS and was kept in the house of Sanat Mahato of Lakhanpur, is a local TMC leader. Tarun Mahato a squad member of CPI(Maoist) has also revealed that a number of armed squad member were present in the house of the said Sanat Mahato.

5. In the year 2004 during Loksabha election and 2006 during assembly election Chhatradhar Mahato was the election agent of TMC.

6. On 04/02/09 Smt. Mamata Banerjee went to Lalgrah and visited Khas Jungle, Dharampur, Chhoto Pelia areas and attend a local political programee. She met with Chhatradhat Mahato and other PSBJC leaders.

7. On 20/09/09 police arrested Biswanath Mahato, Dinabandhu Mahato and 8 others from forest area near Baro Kalsibahanga under Salboni PS and from Baghghora village the District TMC President later on claimed that they are TMC supporters. Biswanath Mahato, Dinabandhu Mahato are close associated of CPI(Maoist).

8. Chandrakanta Debsingh of Madhupur under Salboni PS is a TMC supporter.

9. Pronobesh @ Khokan Mahato was a follower of TMC, was arrested on 13/09/09 in C/W Salboni PS. The TMC leaders and followers namely Kartick Deb Sjngha, Bijay pal, Santu Debsingha, Pradip Mahato, and PSBJC leaders namely Chhatradhar Mahato, Sidhu Soren, Lal Mohan Tudu, Pradhyut Mahato, Haradhan Murmu and other 4 armed Maoists inspired him to join in PSBJC.

10. Srikanta Mahato, leader of TMC and anchal pradha of anchal N-VI (Bhimpur Anchal) took active part with Chhatradhat Mahato, Sidhu Soren, Sanat Mahato and othrs in the demolition of Koyma Camp under Salboni on 17/06/09.

11. Dinabandhu Mahato @ Hatu PS-Salboni and Biswanath Mahato we arrested on 20/09/2009 in C/W Kotwali PS. District President of TMC admitted in press conference that they were the followers of TMC.

12. TMC & Maoist organized a meeting on 9th August, 2010 at Lalgarh. The meeting was addressed by Railway Minister Smt. Mamata Banerjee. After the controversy over this meeting, it was reported in the Parliament that the meeting was organized by citizen’s forum not by the TMC or maoist.

But it was recorded in DM, Paschim Midnapore office that the permission for holding the meeting was sought by TMC District Committee. DM also granted the permission against that letter. It is also reported in Lalgarh PS that RPF was deployed in that meeting violating the norms of general administration.

On Maoist – TMC link: reference from Kabir Suman’s book and transcription from some relevant video footage

Name of the Book: Nishaner Nam Tapasi Malik [Tapasi Malik: The name of the symbol]

Publisher: Mitra-Ghosh

Author: Kabir Suman, MP, Trinamool Congress

Dedicated to: Kishenji [The Top Maoist Leader]

Page 148: Meeting of 6th November, 2007; The meeting was organized by Krishi Jomi Raksha Komiti; Venue: Trinamool Bhavan, E.M. Byepass. The meeting was attended by Raja Sarkhel and Prasun Chattopadhyay. Both of them are now detained under UAPA, and associated with Krishi Jomi Raksha Komiti as accorded by the author Kabir Suman himself. Besides, Naxalite Purnendu Basu and Dola Sen attended the meeting along with Mamata Banerjee and Kabir Suman too.

Suman spoke on the necessity of sending Kalashnikov [AK-46; or AK-56] to Trinamool workers at Nandigram. Nobody intercepted him from speaking.

Video document: Lalgarh Santrash Birodhi Samabesh; 9th August, 2010; Speaker: Mamata Banerjee, Swami Agnibesh, Medha Patkar etc.

Manoj Mahato: Secretary, PSBJC: What we are doing is correct. We are not a banned organization, nor has the state government banned us. I will also be there in that Samabesh [rally]. We are doing meetings, campaigning door to door and convince people to rally with us. We will go behind the PSBJC banner. We will speak on behalf of PSBJC in the rally, as we are not a banned organization. We are organizing our movement constitutionally.

Kishenji: We are screaming for last few months that there was no need for any Joint Armed Operation or any ‘Bahini’. Chidambaram, Manmohan, Sonia, Defense Minister Anthony are all part parcel of it.

Mamata Banerjee: Joint Force should be withdrawn immediately. Our delegation will governor of the state and our Parliamentary team including our Ministers will meet Prime Minister.

Manmohan Singh: I have always maintained that Naxalism is greatest internal security threat to our country.

Mamata Banerjee: In the name of Maoists, CPM is perpetrating all murder and violence.

Pranab Mukherjee: The left wing extremism is the biggest threat to the internal security today.

Mamata Banerjee: There is no ‘Mao’; where ‘Mao’ in such a number has come from? CPM is the biggest ‘Mao’ in West Bengal.

Kishenji: TMC delegation visited Lalgarh; you have seen that lady police also were covering them. How was it possible?

Mamata Banerjee: This is war against people, what CPM perpetrates here.

Mamata Banerjee; 20th June, 2009: Chhatradhar was a TMC worker; As soon as I have received information…we expelled him two years ago. [Mamata however visited Lalgarh on 4th February, 2009, to meet Chhatradhar Mahato.]

Mamata Banerjee; 22th June, 2009: I went to Lalgarh to pay homage to three persons shot dead. I heard that Chhatradhar Mahato had formed PSBJC. I said that he was an associate of TMC but we have no relation with PSBJC.

Chhatradhar Mahato: She [Mamata Banerjee] told me I would always be with Lalgarh movement. I support Lalgarh movement.

Chhatradhar Mahato: in the last Panchayat election I worked for Trinamool Congress; I was even an Election Agent of the TMC Panchayat Samiti candidate.

Manoj Mahato; Lalgarh Rally; 9th August, 2010: Almost 15 to 20 thousand people are now coming with me. My people are coming from different places. The total amount of people comes around 50 to 60 thousand under my leadership. I will not be attending the programme from the dais, because police will arrest me.

Media reports on Maoist-TMC links

Annexure I

Press Document of CPI(Maoist); 7th January; published in different news media on 8th January, 2009

To wipe out CPI(M) from West Bengal, we must work together with all parties of the ruling class like, Trinamool Congress, Congress, BJP etc. The CPI(Maoist) document, headed “Some important problems and its solutions” was circulated to the members after the incidents of Shalboni and Lalgarh. We must get all ruling parties associated as long they desire to be. We call CPI(M) as a Social Fascist organization. Relations with Trinamool Congress and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee must be strengthened.

To combat such Fascist organization we must therefore associate all ruling class parties of India.

[This document was subsequently issued after the land mine explosion in CM’s meeting at Lalgarh on 2nd November, 2009.]

Ananda Bazar Patrika; 19th June, 2009

News: They won’t get out if they enter Lalgarh: Kishenji

Without camouflaging their presence in Lalgarh, Kishenji has stated that here in Lalgarh some organizations are also working along with PSBJC. He in this regard has reminded that ‘we were there in Nandigram during land movement along with Trinamool Congress. We however had separate agenda”.

The Times of India; 20th June, 2009

Things are not the same for Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee when it comes to realpolitik. Because what was fair in Nandigram, is not so for a Party, which is now a part of the Union government. So when Maoist strategist Koteswar Rao alias Kishanji urged upon Mamata to stop sending central forces against the people of Lalgarh, Banerjee dissociated her party from the “politics of individual killings”.

Aajkal; 21st October, 2009

News: Why Mamata not interested in Kishenji’s arrest?

Immediate after Kishenji asked before media why Mamata were not demanding the withdrawal of joint force at Jangal Mahal, the UPA Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee prompted the claim to suspend joint force from the entire Jangal Mahal.

Ananda Bazar Patrika; 22nd December, 2009

News: Shubhendu calls police rebellion against the state government

Byline: Surajit Singha, Bankura

Snap: Trinamool Congress MP and the President Trinamool Youth Congress Shubhendu Adhikari calls state police administration to organize rebellion against the state government.

Much turmoil had already been resurfaced when the TMC supremo and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee remained silent even after some police officials being killed and abducted by the Maoists. Now the Youth President of her Party himself calls police administration to organize an “insurgence”. He however added that the “Maoist” movement in Lalgarh is nothing but a movement of common people against exploitation.

Aajkal; 3rd January, 2010;

News: TMC leaders pleading for the release of the detained Maoist leaders

Khoirashol, Birbhum

Local Trinamool leader Ashok Mukherjee demanded the release of the detained Maoist Squad leader Kajal Pramanik and Rakhohari Das at Khoirashol Police station. Kajal Pramanik is however a confirmed resident of Nandigram.

Aajkal; 6th January, 2010;

News: CPI(M) perpetrating the poster campaigning in the name of Maoists

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee at a press conference averred that in the name of Maoists it was CPI(M) perpetrating the poster campaigning in Kolkata, Salt Lake and other urban areas. No Maoist existed however in these areas.

When asked on Home Minister P. Chidambaram Mamata stated, ‘I am not aware of them he hold meeting with’.

Manoj Verma, Police Superintendent, West Midnapore; 9th January, 2010

Press Conference

Police had restored more than 120 landmine, ammunitions, 61 firearms, more than 500 rounds cartridges in today’s operation in Jangal Mahal. Being informed from secret sources police raided the residence of local Trinamool Congress and PSBJC leader Keshab Mahato at Boita in Lalgarh block.

Ananda Bazar Patrika; 10th January, 2010

News: Mamata slams Prime Minister; Mamata against Maoists

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee while slamming the Prime Minister sharply criticized his visit to ailing Jyoti Basu along with the CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee straightway from the Airport. She even slammed the Prime Minister for making photo-shoot with the Chief Minister.

Mamata however had recognized the existence of Maoists in Jangal Mahal.

Ananda Bazar Patrika; 10th January, 2010

News: Mamata voltefacing; Kishenji

Maoist leader Kishenji in a statement issued to the press particularly after Mamata Banerjee’s press conference alleged, ‘the Railway Minister is taking opportunist stance as and when required.

Kishenji on Mamata’s punch that CPIM and CPI(Maoist) are all same, slandered that ‘for last few days Mamata had been playing this broken record which the people of Jangal Mahal are spitting on.’

Kishenji in this regard held Mamata Banerjee responsible for organizing Joint Armed Operation in Jangal Mahal. He sated that being an ally in the Union Cabinet, how could Mamata be away from the responsibility of such an order?

Aajkal; 25th January, 2010

News: Kishenji invites Mamata: Come without Police

“I would not ask you about what happened in Chhoto Angaria; you knew very well; you people have too many arms, weapons and your ‘own’ TMC Harmads, what we even do not possess. If you want to talk to us, please come without Police”, averred Kishenji in an open letter to Mamata Banerjee.

The Times of India; 5th March, 2010

Venkateswar Rao alias Telegu Deepak has confirmed that his men not the CPM gunned down senior Trinamool Congress leader Nishikanta Mondal in Nandigram because he “betrayed them”. Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee had all along accused CPM of killing, though Kishenji claimed responsibility for the murder. Deepak’s statement indicates that no matter how close one is to the Maoists, their friendship comes at a price.”

The Times of India; 6th March, 2010

Kishenji had gone to Nandigram using the alias of Sukumar, his close aide Venkateswar Reddy alias Deepak has told to CID officers interrogating him. DGP Bhupinder Singh confirmed this on Friday, an information Kishenji had himself told TOI in an earlier interview.

Aajkal; 4th April, 2010

News: Mine explosion in Lalgarh just before P. Chidambaram starts the visit

Maoists had perpetrated two successive explosions in Lalgarh just before P Chidambaram starts his visit to Lalgarh. Meanwhile the cabinet ally Trinamool Congress participated in a rally overtly along with Maoist platform PSBJC claiming withdrawal of the Joint Force. Local Trinamool leaders like Raju Mahato, Asit Mahato, Tarun Mahato, Krishna Mahato, Kartick Mahato etc. were seen leading the rally.

Manoj Verma, the District Police Super, while addressing the press stated that Joint force had achieved a substantial progress for last three days before Chidambaram’s visit when they restored huge arms and ammunitions from Bhalukbasha forest and adjacent areas. They arrested three Maoist insurgents, Lakshmi Mahato, Bablu Murmu, Sitaram Murmu who were engaged in killing CPI(M) workers and supporters.

Aajkal; 7th April, 2010

TMC and Postcolonialist intellectuals after Shilda, Dantewada Massacre

Snap: In a written document placed before the press signed by the TMC, MP Kabir Suman along with Mahasweta Devi, Tarun Sanyal, Kaushik Sen, Sujato Bhadra, Samir Aich, Sunanda Sanyal, Bratya Basu, it was clearly stated that the Police operation against the Maoists should immediately be withdrawn. We support the continuous movement against the joint operation to usher the real change in the state.

Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai stated aptly that “intellectuals supporting Maoists criticize police all the time but never utter a single word against Maoist atrocities”.

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee after Shilda Massacre fabricated the whole incident as CPI(M) atrocity. Maoists according to Mamata did not have existence at all.

Aajkal; 15th April, 2010

News: No Maoist in Jangal Mahal

Reproaching the Home Minister P.Chidambaram as ‘Chidambaram babu’ Mamata Banerjee averred again that ‘there is no Maoist in Jangal Mahal’. Refuting even Prime Minister’s order for the allies not to make any statement on Maoists, Mamata Banerjee stated that she would continue with the notion that ‘there is no Maoist in Jangal Mahal’.

Aajkal; 16th April, 2010

News: Semi-Maoist Minister should clarify the actual stance in the Parliament: Arun Jaitley

BJP leader in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley has alleged that a minister of UPA government denies Maoist presence in West Bengal openly, whereas the government continues Joint Armed Operation in that area. The minister should be called upon to clarify everything. He alleged that the Home Minister on the one side recommends the need for joint armed operation but another minister of the same cabinet recommends the Maoist violence. Such a minister is indeed Semi-Maoist.

Ananda Bazar Patrika; 23rd June, 2010

News: Railway relieved from Maoist Bandh: Kishenji

Maoists for the first time relieved the Railway from the Bandh.

After Bapi Mahato being arrested after Jnaneswari massacre, it is somewhere clear that the Maoists are behind the whole massacre…after Jnaneswari incident Kishenji denied Maoist hand behind the massacre; Pro-Mamata intellectuals proclaimed that Maoists were not responsible for the massacre, it was CPI(M) responsible. Maoists also reiterated the same argument soon after those intellectuals…but this had affected public support for the Maoists…As a consequence Maoists decided to relieve Railway from the Bandh to satisfy the Railway Minister…as she was also vocal to them to keep the Railway away from any insurgency activity.

Ananda Bazar Patrika; 22nd July, 2010

News: Mamata to meet PM to suspend Joint Operation

Byline: Roshni Mukhopadhyay

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee decides to meet the Prime Minister to place her demand to suspend the joint operation from entire Jangal Mahal…Political intelligentsia accord that this is not a reiteration of her earlier such announcements…It was the consequence of top Maoist leader Kishenji’s assertion that Mamata talking in favour of ‘Joint Force’, not trying to stop the operation. Pro-Change intellectuals also earlier requested her to stop the joint operation that finally had influenced her to initiate such decision.

But Mamata’s demand, despite her earlier dissent to the joint operation, to deploy central army also dissatisfied many pro-change intellectuals who remained always against any form of operation in Jangal Mahal.

Pratidin; 23rd July, 2010

News: Maoist-TMC alliance baseless: Chidambaram

“I have no evidence to prove TMC-Maoist alliance in West Bengal or they work hand in hand. But a section of Maoists might have common opinion with the Trinamool Congress during Singur movement”.

 

Ananda Bazar Patrika; 27th July, 2010

News: No Congress; Mamata only welcome to Lalgarh: Maoists

Maoists would allow Mamata in Lalgarh under certain conditions; but no to any Congress leader. Maoist leader Akash stated that people of Lalgarh would give ‘garland of shoes’ to Manas Bhuiyan or any other Congress leader…Maoists appeared soft to Mamata as she had announced earlier to request PM to withdraw the joint force…Akash reiterated that Mamata in her meeting at Jangal Mahal would say something against Joint Force.

Dainik Statesman; 2nd August, 2010

News: PCPA not to intercept Mamata’s meeting

PSBJC secretary Manoj Mahato taking on press and media reiterated that PSBJC would not create any interception in Mamata’s meeting in Jangal Mahal. They would rather be interested to know her stance on Joint Armed Operation, Harmad force etc.

The Times of India; 2nd August, 2010

Mamata Banerjee is going to Lalgarh where her party has a minimal presence. The reason is apparent. When Maoists target the CPM cadre, Trinamool Congress sees it as an opportunity to make the gains in this part of Bengal before the Assembly elections. The Trinamool Chief, the first ally of the Congress-led UPA government, has demanded withdrawal of security forces from the area because she refuses to see a Maoist hand in the bloodbath. Right activists such as Medha Patkar are also planning a stir against the recent killings of the mass leaders by Police in the forests.

Aajkal; 5th August, 2010

News: 6 TMC workers detained for Maoist insurgency acitivities

Byline: Alok Sen, Bankura

6 Trinamool Congress workers arrested for blowing up a bus and an ambassador in Khatra, Purulia were produced at Khatra Court which remanded them a ‘14-day’ jail custody. Demanding their release however, local Trinamool Congress organized a day long agitation programme at the jail periphery. The six detainees were TMC Booth president Somnath Duley, Janardan Sen, Uttam Chatterjee, Madhu Chatterjee, Arun Duley. With this progress the relation of TMC leaders with Maoist insurgencies had been established. Subrata Misra, the TMC Block President, claimed all 6 detainees as their active workers.

Ananda Bazar Patrika; 12th August, 2010

News: Mamata to comment on Azad controversy in the Parliament

Maoists however had taken Mamata’s comment on Azad as a manifestation of truth. Kishenji slamming Lefts and BJP averred, “They should up their voice against the price rise instead of the Lalgarh Meeting”. Welcoming Mamata’s proposal Kishenji averred, “We still want to have a talk with the government. We welcome Mamata if she takes the initiative. But the government must stop violence before every such development”.

 

PTI; 12th August, 2010

News: Chidambaram refutes Mamata’s demand

Home Minister P. Chidambaram refutes Mamata’s demand for Maoist leader Azad’s death probing. Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded Azad’s death probing in the Lalgarh meeting on Monday.

Ananda Bazar Patrika; 13th August, 2010

News: Maoist message to talk to Railway Minister

Maoists in a message to media demanded direct meeting with the Railway Minister. In another message to Swami Agnibesh, Maoists demanded initiation of dialogue with the centre. There was however some necessary preconditions like judicial enquiry of the death of CPI(Maoist) Polit Bureau member Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad.

Aajkal; 19th October, 2010

News: Maoist open letter on Trinamool Corruption

In an open letter to the Trinamool leaders and workers Maoists requested Mamata Banerjee to resign from the central government. Maoist leader Bikram in that very letter stated some problems regarding Maoist struggle to end the left front government. These were:

• Unlimited corruption and partisanship in all Gram Panchayat, Municipalities, Zila Parishads, School managing committees, cooperatives governed by TMC.

• There are many such persons originally soft to CPM have already placed high in Trinamool Congress.

• TMC leadership talking in favour of the owner of a Jhalda factory.

• Railway Minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee is working for the people of Jangal Mahal. She only announces new trains for Kolkata people.

Aajkal; 26th October, 2010

News: Mukul Ray visits dead PSBJC leaders home

To offer condolence Mukul Ray visited the residence of Biswanath Mahato and Pradip Mahato, the two dead PSBJC leaders. This visit has been highly criticized by both the Left Front as well as the Congress leaders. The minister clarified his visit as he stated that these leaders were in favour of change and thus were killed by the ‘harmads’ belonging to CPIM. However, these two leaders were alleged of having a link with the Maoists.

Ananda Bazar Patrika; 26th October, 2010

News: Mukul Ray’s visit faces criticism

Mukul Ray faced strong criticism after his much talked about visit to Bishwanath Mahato and Pradip Mahato’s residence. After the Gnaneshwari incident, Union Home minister P.Chidambaram himself had alleged the PSBJC as a part of the Maoist committee. Thus the open visit of a minister to both the PSBJC leader’s home ignited new controversy.

Aajkal; 10th November, 2010

News: Maoist leader detained from TMC leaders car

Maoist leader Kanchan Deb Singh was arrested from Trinamool Block President Nepal Singh’s car in Shalbani. Police stopped the car for checking and recognized Kanchan inside the car. Nepal Singh as well as Kanchan was taken to the police station though the Block President was released within no time. Kanchan was associated with the PSBJC arms training in 2008. He was charged with various landmine blasts, looting of police van etc.

Aajkal; 10th November, 2010

News: Maoist leader accepts his involvement in Singur-case

Maoist leader Ajay Das accepted his direct involvement with the Singur case to the CBI when interrogated. Das has been associated with the Maoist committee for more than ten years. A 9mm pistol as well as a fire arm was also discovered from him. He is also a member of Burdwan-Nadia-Murshbad zonal committee. It is being investigated how a team was sent from Singur to rob the residence of a Bijpur based businessman.

The Telegraph; 25th November, 2010

News: Maoist Help in Fightback

Byline: Pronab Mondal

Maoists helped the Trinamool Congress foil the CPM’s attempt to “recapture” Khejuri today, intelligence branch officials believe.

The Police Officials said the Maoists had “struck a deal” with Trinamool Congress in Nandigram after being forced on the back foot in Lalgarh.

The Telegraph; 27th November, 2010

News: Maoists say they are with Trinamool

Khejuri residents today said several “unknown faces” had joined Trinamool Congress activists to guard the area and keep watch on a CPM shelter, prompting Maoists to claim the strangers as their own.

According to Swapan Das, a grocer, the outsiders take up “strategic positions” in and around Khejuri after 10pm to keep guard. “Although I am a Trinamool supporter, I have not been able to identify these young people.” Das said, “I don’t know who are they and where they have come from.

Dainik Statesman; 27th November, 2010, P-1

News: Shubhendu Adhikari’s meeting at Jhargram

Byline: Asok Kumar Mondal

Snap: “PSBJC is not a banned organization; they can indeed organize rally, meeting anywhere. PSBJC is not at all a Maoist organization. Let Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee have that power to ban PSBJC”, averred Shubhendu Adhikari.

Times of India; 21st December, 2010, P-3

News: Body Politics in Heart of City

Byline: Times News Network

Snap: Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee paid wreath tribute to Sanatan Hembram, the PCPA activist, as accorded by the District Police Authority, at Trinamool Congress Bhavan on 20th December, 2010. Earlier the dead body was hacked from far away Lalgarh to take around the city.

In this regard, Chunibala Hansda, MLA and Chief of Jharkhand Party (Naren) significantly averred, “He was earlier with our party; though I am not aware of his present stance but he never signed for Trinamool Congress. How could they initiate such programmes?”

Subrata Mahato, neighbour of Sanatan Hembram however alleged that PSBJC once led by Sanatan Hembram ransacked his residence for not giving five thousand rupees to PSBJC fund. District Police Officials however held Sanatan Hembram as a confirmed worker of PSBJC, had earlier taken armed training in different Maoists camps of Jangal Mahal.