Bombay Hospital in Mumbai, has decided to set up three new multi-speciality hospitals — one in Kolkata and two each in Rajasthan. The group is now finalising the investment outlay. For starters, the group is scouting for 5-to-6 acres in Rajarhat for the Kolkata facility which will have more than 200 beds. While it has sought land in Rajarhat from the West Bengal government, the group is also exploring options to acquire land on its own. "The Kolkata hospital will provide world-class healthcare to patients from the economically weaker sections of society. The cost of the service will be priced accordingly," said Harsh Vardhan Lodha, trustee and member of the managing committee of Belle Vue Clinic and son of the erstwhile MP Birla Group chairman Late R. S. Lodha. On the other hand, the two proposed hospitals in Rajasthan will come up in Jaipur and Chittorgarh. The group has already acquired seven acres in Jaipur from the Rajasthan government. "The Jaipur hospital will have more than 300 beds. On an average, we will invest around Rs 10-15 lakh per bed for these facilities," said Mr Lodha. The MP Birla group also operates a speciality eye care venture in Kolkata, Priyamvada Birla Aravind Eye Hospital, Bombay Hospital in Indore, and M.P. Birla Vikas Hospital and Priyamvada Birla Cancer Research Institute, both in Satna. It plans to expand the Belle Vue Clinic by increasing number of beds and foraying into newer specialities. "We are adding 60 new beds by setting up a mother and child care department comprising maternity unit and a neonatal intensive care unit. This apart, there will be a 26-bed invasive cardiac unit with provision for Cath Lab and a dedicated cardiac operation theatre. The total investment on this expansion will be around Rs 20 crore," said Mr Lodha. |
June 25, 2009
MP Birla group to go for major expansion of healthcare venture
Kolkata police to have specialised anti-terrorist unit
KOLKATA, 23 JUNE: The West Bengal government will raise a new specialised force to deal with terrorism in Kolkata, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said here on Tuesday. The crack unit, to be trained by instructors from the army and the Border Security Force (BSF), will be attached to the Kolkata police. "We already have three battalions of a specialised unit - Straco - to deal with terrorist strikes in areas under the state police. Today it was decided to recruit one battalion for the Kolkata police to fight terrorists," Bhattacharjee said after a meeting of the state cabinet. The specialised force, comprising around one thousand men, will be ready within a year, city police sources said. In a colonial legacy, the West Bengal police has jurisdiction over 18 districts, while the metropolitan area of Kolkata has a separate city police force constituted and administered under Calcutta Police Act,1866 & Calcutta (Suburban Police) Act, 1866. This arrangement is unique in the entire country. |
West Bengal cannot say ‘no’ to ban on Maoists: Buddhadeb
| “How to enforce the order against the outfit is our business” |
KOLKATA, JUNE 23: The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act under which the Communist Party of India (Maoist) has been deemed a banned outfit is applicable across the country “and West Bengal is no exception” though “how far the States will go [enacting it], whom to arrest, how to arrest and when is our business; that we will decide,” West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said here on Tuesday.
“This is a Central Act and is applicable to all States. We just cannot say ‘no’ we do not want to accept it [in West Bengal],” he told journalists, even as the operation by security forces against the Maoists and activists of the Maoist-backed Police Santrash Birodhi Janashadharaner Committee in the Lalgarh area of the State entered its sixth day.
Pointing out that the CPI (Maoist) is now banned in the State as stipulated by the Act, Mr. Bhattacharjee said a “holistic” approach was required to tackle Maoist activism. It should comprise socio-economic development in areas where the extremists were trying to extend their influence, a political campaign to isolate them from the people and strong administrative steps against their activities.
“There is a strong opinion that administrative action is not enough and should be backed up with a political campaign” against the Maoists, he said in a reference to the call by the ruling Left Front to counter the outfit’s activities politically.
“What is also imperative is that the State government continues with development schemes to improve the lives of the people [being influenced by the Maoists],” Mr. Bhattacharjee said.
Earlier Mr. Bhattacharjee held a meeting with his Cabinet colleagues where the developments at Lalgarh were among the issues discussed.
The joint operations will continue, the Chief Minister said. “We are raising our combat forces and it is increasing in number [to tackle Maoist activities] … A new battalion is also being raised by the Kolkata police to combat other types of terrorist groups,” he added.
Rejecting the argument that there has been no development in areas such as Lalgarh where the Maoists are active, he said a task force had been set up to oversee development in the economically backward areas of the State and much work had been done over the past year, though much more needed to be done.
Socio-economic backwardness was, however, not the only factor giving rise to terrorism, he said. If that were so how did one explain the terrorism in the name of the Khalistan movement in Punjab — a State whose per capita income was among the highest in the country, he asked.
On whether there was need for separate legislation in the State to enact the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against banned outfits, Mr. Bhattacharjee replied in the negative.
The Chief Minister said he had got to know that the Centre was contemplating adding the CPI (Maoist) to the list of banned organisations during his discussions with Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in New Delhi last week.
Knowing the reds: A primer on Maoists
ZEE NEWS Bureau Report
New Delhi, June 22: Maoist rebels have killed 10 CPI(M) supporters in West Bengal this week and declared a "liberated zone" close to the city of Kolkata, sparking unease among investors in the communist-ruled state.
The attacks by the rebels, who are fighting for the rights of poor farmers and the disenfranchised, are among the most brazen in years.
Who are the Maoists?
The rebels began an armed struggle with a peasant revolt in Naxalbari village in West Bengal in 1967 but were initially crushed by the Congress-led government.
After regrouping in the 1980s, they began recruiting hundreds of poor villagers, arming them with bows and arrows and even rifles snatched from police.
Authorities say they are led by Koteshwar Rao, also known as Kishanjee, who is in charge of militant activities, and Ganapathi, the political leader. Neither have been seen in public and remain hidden in dense forest bases.
How big is the movement?
The rebels have an estimated 22,000 combatants in more than 180 of the country's 630 districts. They operate across a "red corridor" stretching from Andhra Pradesh to Chhattisgarh and into West Bengal.
How severe is the Maoist threat?
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the insurgency as the biggest internal security challenge since independence. More than 1,000 attacks were recorded in 2008, as the Maoists targeted politicians, police and villagers suspected of being informers.
Authorities say the Maoists have a well thought-out plan to spread their influence into urban areas. Some of their recent attacks have been closer to cities and the latest strike in West Bengal is a show of their capability. Others say their influence will not extend far beyond remote rural areas.
The Maoists regularly attack railway lines and factories, aiming to cripple economic activity. Their base in the "red corridor" gives them control of some of country's mineral rich areas.
They could feed off the resistance in parts of rural India, including in West Bengal, against rapid economic growth that excludes hundreds of millions of poor.
The rebels advance to Lalgarh in West Bengal is near the construction site of a $7 billion steel plant by India's third largest steel producer, JSW Steel Ltd, which is watching how the government tackles the violence. It could potentially scare off prospective investors from setting up shop in and around the Maoists' sphere.
How do the Maoists get arms?
They are in touch with other militant groups operating in India, including groups in Kashmir and the northeast, who help them. Police say they are equipped with automatic weapons, shoulder rocket launchers, mines and explosives.
PepsiCo India to make Bengal unit the largest in India
KOLKATA, JUNE 22: At a time when West Bengal government’s industrialisation drive has suffered a major jolt, PepsiCo India is poised to make its Frito-Lay manufacturing unit in the state its largest in the country by 2011-12. PepsiCo India has acquired an extra 4 acres near its existing factory in the state to ramp up production of Frito-Lay -- the food division of the company. Talking to newsmen Mr Animesh Banerjee, vice -president (operations) at PepsiCo India Holdings Pvt Ltd (Frito-Lay division), said: "The West Bengal facility will emerge as the largest factory by calender 2011. The factory’s capacity will increase from 25,000 tonne per annum to 50,000 tonne per annum by 2011-12. However, the expansion plan will largely hinge on the demand curve in the next two years." Incidentally, apart from West Bengal, Frito-Lay has manufacturing facilities at Channo in Punjab and Ranjangaon in Pune. PepsiCo India had initially invested Rs 140 crore in its West Bengal facility, which is located at Sankrail Food Park. "In addition, the company will invest another Rs 110 crore in a phased manner to enhance the factory’s capacity," Mr Banerjee said. The unit produces two of its major brands - Frito Lay and Kurkure. Frito-Lay uses around 1.5 lakh tonnes of potatoes per annum for its products, 50% of which comes from contract farming. PepsiCo has partnered with more than 10,000 farmers working in over 12,000 acres across Punjab, UP, Karnataka, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Kashmir and Maharashtra for the supply of potatoes. The company aims to collaborate with 25,000 farmers in next five years time for procuring potatoes. Frito-Lay India on Monday launched a new brand Aliva in the baked savoury cracker category. "It is being manufactured at our Ranjangaon facility. With the launch of Aliva, the company aims to create a new sub-segment of great tasting savoury crackers in the greater than 1500 tonne biscuit category. Our aim is to make Aliva much bigger than Kurkure," said Mr Vidur Vyas, executive vice-president (marketing), Frito-Lay India. |
2 CPI(M) supporters die, Nandigram bandh on Tuesday
Nandigram (West Bengal), June 22: Two CPI(M) supporters, severely beaten up by alleged Trinamool Congress men at Nandigram and elsewhere, died in hospital on Monday prompting the Marxists to call a 12-hour bandh in the area on Tuesday.
SP Pallab Kanti Ghosh said Keshab Das, stated to be a CPI(M) supporter, died at a Kolkata hospital late last night after being assaulted by unidentified persons the previous day.
Another CPI(M) supporter, thrashed by some men on June 13 at Moyna area, also died at a hospital today, the SP said.
The CPI(M) claimed both were beaten up by Trinamool Congress which wanted to finish off the Left Front activists from the district after the Lok Sabha elections.
The incidents followed cases of arson and recovery of arms from different parts of Khejuri last week with the Trinamool Congress wresting the erstwhile Marxist stronghold.
Maoist leader had named TMC, Mahasweta
By Kartyk Venkatraman
Posted online: Monday , Jun 22, 2009 at 1152 hrs
According to Somen's interrogation report, accessed by The Indian Express, the 58-year-old admitted to Maoist involvement in Nandigram and links with Trinamool leaders and Trinamool-backed Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC).
The report, which was forwarded to the state Government, said:
• CPI(Maoist) leaders, including Soren, visited Nandigram in December 2006 to "assess the temperament of locals" when protests against land acquisition for a chemical hub just began.
• Based on the visit, a meeting of his party was held in Chakulia forest in Jharkhand in February 2007 to devise a strategy for Nandigram. A decision was taken to keep the Maoists away from the forefront of agitation due to lack of organisational network in Nandigram. It was also decided to procure arms. Accordingly, the party central committee sanctioned Rs 8 lakh, by which six .315 rifles and 500 bullets worth Rs 4 lakh were purchased from one Sahoo based in Jharkhand.
• The consignment was received at Haldia, shipped to Nandigram and kept at the house of CPI(Maoist) East Midnapore zonal committee secretary Narayan's residence in Sonachura, the epicentre of Nandigram movement. Besides, 30 crude guns were procured locally. Narayan also acted as a link with the BUPC, whose members Karabi, Ranjit Pal and Dipak formed the Maoist squad along with Narayan.
• Somen also visited Nandigram in July 2007 for two days and stayed at Narayan's residence.
• Narayan was in contact with Trinamool MP from Tamluk Subendhu Adhikari, the then MLA from Contai South Assembly constituency, and BUPC leaders. Maoists also forged links with Sidiqullah Chowdhury's People's Democratic Council of India (PDCI), SUCI and Bandi Mukti Committee (BMC).
• Several Bengal intellectuals, including BMC president Mahasweta Devi, went to Nandigram at the Maoists’ behest to exhort people to join the anti-acquisition movement.
• However, relations between the BUPC and Maoists soured when the former rejected a proposal to form volunteer groups to take on the CPI(M) cadres.
About the Maoists’ organisational set-up, the CID report said:
• Kishanji, also operating under the names of Pradip, Bimal, Prahalad and Sridhar, collected “levy” from contractors in Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore averaging Rs 8 lakh per month. He also received Rs 1.3-1.5 lakh from the central party headquarters every month which he distributed directly to the state unit. He wrote press statements of the party in English while Somen framed the Bengali ones.
• Training of fresh inductees was conducted in Damuria Hills of Dalma forest in Gorabandha, Mayurbhanj, Orissa. Trainees would move in small batches of two to three by train from Howrah station to Tatanagar in Jharkhand, then by public transport to Dalma Hills and finally on foot.
• As state secretary, Somen handled political matters while military activity was under the Bengal-Jharkhand-Orissa regional committee.
Centre bans CPI (Maoist)
| Hope West Bengal government will also do so: Chidambaram |
NEW DELHI, JUNE 22: The Centre on Monday banned the Communist Party of India (Maoist), terming it a terrorist organisation. It invoked Section 41 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against the extremist outfit.
The CPI (Maoist) came into existence following the merger of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), the People’s War Group (PWG) and the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC).
The ban came two days after West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee met Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in the backdrop of violent incidents in Lalgarh and the ongoing operation by the police and the security forces to reclaim the area.
The Chief Minister had said that his government would give a “serious thought” to banning the CPI (Maoist) as advised by the Home Minister.
The ban was to avoid any ambiguity though all formations and front organisations of the PWG, the MCC and the CPI (ML) came under the purview of the ban.
In September 2004, the CPI (ML) and the MCC announced their decision to merge and named the new organisation CPI (Maoist). There was some opposition to the merger and some elements in the two organisations continued to function independently.
Mr. Chidambaram said the merged organisation would continue to be listed as a terror organisation. “When I looked into the matter a couple of days ago, I said that may be the position in the law. In order to avoid any ambiguity, let us add the CPI (Maoist) by name in that schedule of the Act.”
Many States, including Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, had declared the CPI (Maoist) an unlawful association. Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu had done so under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
“When I had a discussion with Mr. Bhattacharjee, I advised him to ban the CPI (Maoist) under Section 16 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1908. That power is available with the State. I did not change my view. I still think that West Bengal should declare the CPI (Maoist) an unlawful association,” he told journalists.
Asked about the Left parties’ opposition to the ban, Mr. Chidambaram said the Left had taken a view which was not that of the West Bengal government. “I hope distinction between the party and the government is still there in this country. I expect that the Chief Minister will look into the matter.”
Will talk to Centre about Lalgarh only when asked to, says Mamata
| 21 Jun 2009, 0533 hrs IST, TNN |
KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is disappointed that the Centre did not consult her party, a UPA partner, before embarking on 'liberate Lalgarh operation'. "We'll tell Centre about the real nature of the problem in Lalgarh if asked for. We will not go and tell on our own," she said on Saturday. Mamata alleged Lalgarh was stage-managed by chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee following CPM's defeat in the Lok Sabha election. The CPM had an understanding with Maoists. "Otherwise how was it that CPM managed to win panchayat and assembly polls in areas dominated by Maoists and why People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) called for a poll boycott that helped CPM win Jhargram Lok Sabha seat against Congress", she asked. She also criticised the state government for failing to ban CPI (Maoist). She said some prominent CPM leaders, including a minister, were behind the operation in Lalgarh, she said they helped Maoists to escape from Lalgarh. The ransacking of a prominent CPM leader's house in Lalgarh was also a 'drama', she said, adding it was done not by Maoists but by a group of CPM rebels in the presence of a select group of media to give the incident publicity. "CPM had created the same Maoists to capture Keshpur, Garbeta and Khanakul." She said there was a difference between Maoists in Andhra Pradesh and those in West Bengal. "Here, they are creations of CPM." Even Maoist leader, 'Kishenji', could be a creation of CPM, she added. If there were genuine Maoists, Midnapore West, Purulia and Bankura should be declared disturbed and let the Centre take care of the operation. Denying any link of Trinamool with Maoists, she said she had no objection if Maoists were arrested. But, if police harassed and tortured common people, Trinamool would protest. Common people are being used as shields by Maoists. "Chhatradhar Mahato was a Trinamool member two years ago, but when we learnt that he had Maoist links, we expelled him from the party," she said. |
Lalgarh tense, says Chidambaram
NEW DELHI, JUNE 21: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Sunday described the situation in Lalgarh in West Bengal as “sensitive and tense.” He urged citizens, especially political leaders, not to go to the conflict area, even as Left MPs appealed to the Prime Minister to intervene following reports that some Union Ministers were reaching there.
“The situation in Lalgarh is sensitive and continues to be tense. Besides, the CPI (Maoist) has called for a [a two-day] bandh [from] tomorrow [Monday]. Security forces must carry on their work without distraction. Hence I appeal to all citizens, especially political leaders, NGOs, and others, not to go to the conflict area,” Mr. Chidambaram said in a brief statement.
The Home Ministry cautioned the people to remain vigilant against possible violence during the bandh called by the Maoists in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal. The Maoists might target security forces, economic infrastructure and public places.
Sixteen MPs of the Left parties wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday, urging him to intervene. They pointed to media reports about some Union Cabinet Ministers proceeding to the affected areas and making public comments. They were apparently referring to reports that two Ministers, belonging to the Trinamool Congress, were in the area. They told Dr. Singh that he had drawn the country’s attention to the fact that the Maoist activities constituted “one of the gravest threats” to India’s internal security. “In this situation, we…seek your personal intervention to ensure that the joint operations are not adversely complicated by utterances and actions of some members of the Union Council of Ministers as reported by the media.”
The signatories are Sitaram Yechury, Brinda Karat, Mohd. Amin, Basudeb Acharya, Shyamal Chakraborty, P. Karunakaran, A. Vijayaraghavan, P. Madhu, T.K. Rangarajan, Bajuban Riyan, Khagen Das and Tapas Sen of the CPI (M); D. Raja of the CPI; Abani Roy of the Revolutionary Socialist Party; and Barun Mukherjee and Narhari Mahato of the All-India Forward Bloc.
(Full Text of the letter added below)
Left MP’s seek personal intervention of Prime Minister
June 21, 2009
Members of Parliament belonging to the Left Parties have sent the following letter to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
***********************
Dear Pradhan Mantriji,
We are writing to you to convey our apprehensions in connection with the ongoing joint operations by the Central Security Forces and the Security Forces of the Government of West Bengal in Lalgarh and other areas of West Midnapore against the Maoist violence.
We have learnt through media reports that some members of the Union Council of Ministers are proceeding to visit the affected areas and are making public comments which are adversely complicating the operations against the Maoists.
You had, yourself, drawn the attention of the country by stating that the Maoist activities constitute one of the gravest threats to India's internal security. In that spirit, the Central Security Forces have been dispatched at the request of the state government for launching these joint operations.
In this situation, we, Members of Parliament belonging to the Left parties seek your personal intervention to ensure that the joint operations against the Maoists are not adversely complicated by utterances and actions of some members of the Union Council of Ministers as reported by the media.
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
CPI(M): Sitaram Yechury, Brinda Karat, Mohd. Amin, Basudev Acharia, Shyamal Chakraborty, P. Karunakaran, A. Vijayaraghavan, P. Madhu, T. K. Rangarajan, Bajuban Riyan, Khagen Das, Tapan Sen
CPI: D. Raja, RSP: Abani Roy, Forward Bloc: Barun Mukherjee, Narahari Mahato
copy to: Shri P Chidambaram, Minister for Home Affairs, Government of India
Four Maoists killed, six policemen injured as forces reach Lalgarh
Lalgarh, June 20, 2009: Security forces claimed to have gunned down four Maoists and marched through a forest to establish their control over Lalgarh Saturday before the rebels hit back, injuring six policemen in a landmine blast on the third day of the West Bengal government’s offensive against the leftwing radicals.Using mineproof vehicles and landmine detectors, the forces Saturday morning traversed five kilometres through the Jhitka forest, considered a Maoist den, to set up a base camp at the Lalgarh police station in West Midnapore district after a 36-hour march that began from Pirakata Thursday afternoon.
Though the rebels failed to put up any resistance at Jhitka, they struck back with a vengeance this afternoon at Kadashole under Goaltore police station by triggering the blast on the Pingoboni-Sarenga road and engaged the forces in a gunbattle.Police said four Maoists were killed in the firefight but top Maoist leader K. Koteshwar Rao denied any casualties on their side.Two policemen had been injured in a landmine blast Friday.
Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Chidambaram and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi about the situation and said his government was seriously considering a suggestion to ban the Maoists.“Chidambaram has advised me to ban the outfit. I said I will give the matter serious thought,” Bhattacharjee told newspersons. “I have started thinking on what to do (about banning it).”He said the operation in Lalgarh to flush out the Maoists would continue for some time and added he was happy that the central government had “acted quickly” to send forces for the offensive.
A day after their advance was slowed down in the face of stiff resistance from the rebels, the central and state forces including commandos of the specialised anti-Maoist wing of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) tasted some success as they reached the Lalgarh police station that had been kept locked by policemen from inside since November as they were apprehensive of their own security.
The security forces have been advancing from four directions towards Lalgarh, where the Maoist guerrillas have been active in organising a movement alongside a tribal body. Lalgarh is 200 km from Kolkata.Apart from the main contingent at Bhimpur, three teams are moving from Jhargam and Goaltor in West Midnapore district and Sarenga in Bankura.Koteshwar Rao alias Kishanjee urged the authorities to halt the operations and apologise to the masses to begin a dialogue and exhorted Bhattacharjee not to “dance to the tune” of the central government.
Deputy Inspector General (Midnapore range) of state police Praveen Kumar threw a challenge to the Maoists. “We have surprises in store for them,” he said. “Reaching Lalgarh is one part of the story. Our main objective is to see to it that the authority of the constitution, the state is restored by establishing the rule of law,” Kumar told the media at the police station.
He warned the Maoists that the forces would pay them back in the same manner if they were fired upon and the rebels would be put behind bars.“We would never like to attack anybody other than the Maoists. But when there are human shields against us, then some things happen on the spur of the moment. But we will show restraint as far as common people are concerned.”
A paramilitary trooper, participating in the operation, died of heat stroke after falling sick at the Jhitka jungles, Inspector General of state police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia told IANS in Kolkata.This is the first death among security forces after they started the march.On the other hand, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Saturday said Maoists in Lalgarh are willing for negotiations if their basic demands for water and electricity are met.Lalgarh has been on the boil since last November when a landmine exploded on the route of the convoy of Chief Minister Bhattacharjee and then central ministers Ram Vilas Paswan and Jitin Prasada.
Complaining of police atrocities after the blast, angry tribals launched an agitation virtually cutting off the area from the rest of the district. During the last few days, the agitators have torched CPI(M) offices, driven away the ruling party’s supporters and forced the police to leave, thereby establishing a virtual free zone. Maoists are active in three western districts of the state - West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia. They also backed the Trinamool Congress-sponsored movement against the state government’s bid to establish a chemical hub at Nandigram in East Midnapore district.
Maoists created by CPM: Mamata
agitation within the next 48 hours, condemning "state-sponsored terrorism in Lalgarh." The immediate provocation seems to be a comment by chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee,who had alleged that Maoists have "links" with Trinamool Congress. Reacting to this statement of the chief minister made on Friday, Mamata retaliated at a press conference on Saturday saying that "Maoists have been created by the CPM only." She went on to add that Buddhadeb "himself is a Maoist." "If you search his residence, you will find many Maoist literature there," she thundered. "Why has the CM suddenly launched this operation at Lalgarh immediately after Left Front's poll debacle? Why did the CM not arrest the Maoists at Lalgarh much earlier, when he knew everything? He should be sacked immediately " she said. The TMC chief said that Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee should have banned Maoists in West Bengal much earlier. "The state goverrnments of Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh have banned Maoists outfits long back. What was our CM doing all these days," she questioned at the press conference. The TMC chief said that neither the central government nor the state government had informed her about the Lalgarh operations. "Now that the central government has intervened in Lalgarh, I urge them to take action against state sponsored terrorism in Garbeta, Mangalkot, Keshpur, Ghatal, Jhargram and other areas," she said. |
Decision to ban Maoists to be taken in consultation with LF
Mr. Chidambaram had on Friday said the state government should ban the CPI(Maoist). "We think they (Maoists) should be banned in West Bengal as in other states," he had said.Mr. Bhattacharjee's statement had come after his separate meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Mr, Chidambaram during which the Maoist violence in parts of the state came up for discussion. Mr. Bhattacharjee also charged the Trinamool Congress with having "strong links with the group of so-called People's Committee against Police Terror", which was active in Lalgarh, and that its leader Chhatradhar Mahato was "very much a member of the Trinamool Congress." Mr. Basu, who is the Left Front Chairman, said the people of Bengal would have to "unitedly fight back the vicious cycle of violence created by certain ugly forces" in the state. Asked about TC chief Mamata Banerjee's demand that Mr. Bhattacharjee should quit as he was a "Maoist himself", Mr. Basu said "my reaction will be of no consequence because (Maoist leader) Kishenji has himself made it clear that they participated in Nandigram violence and supplied 150 rifles."Kishenji also admitted that even before they entered the area, Trinamool Congress had brought lot of arms to Nandigram," the CPI(M) leader said. Meanwhile, the CPI(M) Central Committee adopted a resolution asking all its party units to stand in solidarity with the Bengal unit to fight the "politics of terror" of the Trinamool-led alliance and the Maoist gangs."There is no doubt that this attack against the CPI(M) and its workers and sympathisers is part of the wider gameplan by powerful vested interests to weaken and destroy the party in its main base of Bengal," a party statement said. The party was of the view that these "fascistic type" of attacks on the CPI(M) were also an attack on the minimum norms of democracy and must be a matter of concern to all democratic- minded citizens.Since March this year, 53 CPI(M) members and supporters were killed apart from those belonging to other Left parties. |
We will give serious thought to banning Maoists: Buddhadeb
NEW DELHI, JUNE 20: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said on Saturday that his government would give a “serious thought” to the Centre’s suggestion to ban the CPI (Maoists).
“Home Minister P. Chidamabaram advised me to ban this organisation. We have to give it a serious thought. We have started thinking what to do,” he told reporters here after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mr. Chidambaram.
Attacks on cadre part of wider game plan: CPI(M)
It is aimed at weakening party in West Bengal: CPI(M)
“Maoists have created a zone of terror in Lalgarh”
NEW DELHI, JUNE 20: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Saturday said the attack against its workers and sympathisers in West Bengal was part of a “wider game plan” by powerful vested interests to weaken and destroy the party in its main base.
The party said these incidents were also an attack on the basic norms of democracy and must be a matter of concern to all democratic-minded citizens.“Utilising the electoral setback of the CPI(M), armed gangs led in the main, by the Trinamool Congress, have burnt and vandalised houses of comrades and party offices, and like in Khejuri and other parts of East Midnapore, forcibly driven out hundreds of sympathisers and members from their homes unleashing a reign of terror,” the Central Committee said here.
The committee, which began its two-day meeting to review the poll debacle, also condemned “in the strongest possible terms,” the violence and terror against its cadre and supporters in different parts of the State. It noted that since March this year, 53 members had been killed.
The Maoist gangs, with the direct and indirect backing of the Trinamool, had created a zone of terror in Lalgarh.“In one terrible instance, in Lalgarh the body of a comrade was kept in the open for three days and his family was not allowed to cremate it. In Burdwan district, a veteran district committee leader and chairman of the Electricity Standing Committee of the Zilla Parishad, Falguni Mukherjee, was shot dead from point blank range,”
The Central Committee supported the efforts by the Left Front government to free the area from Maoist gangs and to ensure the rule of law, while taking all steps to re-establish links with the poor tribals living in the area. The party asked it units in the country to launch a powerful campaign in solidarity with the comrades in West Bengal against the politics of terror unleashed by the Trinamool-led alliance as well as against the Maoist gangs.
Launch Solidarity Campaign with West Bengal
Press Statement on June 20, 2009
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) now in session at New Delhi has issued the following statement:
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemns in the strongest possible terms, the violence and terror unleashed against CPI(M) cadre, sympathizers and supporters in different areas of Bengal. Since March this year 53 comrades have been mercilessly butchered. In Lalgarh area of West Midnapore district eight CPI(M) members and workers have been brutally killed and houses and offices burnt. Many of these comrades belong to poor peasant, agricultural labour or worker families, from minorities and oppressed castes. Two members of the Forward Bloc, five villagers, three electoral officers and four police personnel have also been killed.
Utilizing the electoral setback of the CPI(M), armed gangs led in the main, by the Trinamool Congress have burnt and vandalized houses of party comrades and party offices, and like in Khejuri and other parts of East Midnapur, forcibly driven out hundreds of sympathizers and members from their homes unleashing a reign of terror. In Burdwan district, a veteran district committee leader and Chairman of the Electricity Standing Committee of the Zilla Parishad, Falguni Mukherjee, was shot dead at point blank range. The extent of the brutality can be seen in the incident in Khejuri when an agricultural worker sympathizer of the Party Pabitra Das was brutally beaten to death. These gangs have dug up areas in the district refusing entry to the police to catch the criminal murderers. In some areas like Murshidabad, a section of the Congress is also involved in the attacks.
In Lalgarh the Maoist gangs with the direct and indirect backing of the TMC have created a zone of terror against all CPI(M) members and supporters. It is noted that the Maoist leaders in the area have openly spoken about their contacts and help to the Trinamool led alliance in all the developments in Nandigram.
In one terrible instance in Lalgarh the body of a comrade was kept in the open for three days and his family was not allowed to cremate it. The Central Committee supports the efforts made by the Left front Government in West Bengal to use both political and administrative measures to free the area from Maoist gangs, to ensure the rule of law, while taking all steps to reestablish links with the poor tribals living in the area.
There is no doubt that this attack against the CPI(M) and its workers and sympathizers is part of a wider gameplan by powerful vested interests to weaken and destroy the Party in its main base of Bengal. At the same time, these fascistic type of attacks on the CPI(M) are also an attack on the minimum norms of democracy and must be a matter of concern to all democratic minded citizens.
The Party is proud of its courageous comrades in Bengal. The Central Committee pays its deep homage to its martyrs and all those killed. The Central Committee calls upon its units all over the country to launch a powerful campaign in solidarity with comrades in West Bengal and against the politics of terror unleashed by the Trinamool led alliance as well as against the Maoist gangs. It appeals also to all democratic minded citizens across the country to raise their voices against such terror based politics against the CPI(M) and Left parties.
“Charge against Trinamool proved”
NEW DELHI, JUNE 19: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday said the admission by a Maoist leader vindicated the party’s charge that the Trinamool Congress was behind the Lalgarh violence in West Bengal.
Left Front chairman Biman Basu, here to attend the party Polit Bureau meeting, said here that the statement by a senior Maoist leader proved what the party had been saying. He said the game plan of the Trinamool Congress and its rainbow coalition stood exposed. His comments came even as the Congress attacked the party for levelling such an allegation.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister A.K. Antony ruled out the possibility of sending armed forces to fight Maoists in Lalgarh area. Talking to journalists here, Mr. Antony said the armed forces could only extend logistic support to the State police and paramilitary forces, already engaged in tackling the naxal menace.
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