Banerjee equated Nandigram and Singur with Lalgarh and said: “The Lalgarh agitation is a movement of the people. We support it and our dharna will continue at the DM office until a peaceful solution is reached in Lalgarh, Salboni and other areas. Why is the government not calling an all-party meeting, involving the tribals, to resolve the issue.”

She added that the makeshift stage near the DM office will remain there and her party leaders will continue the agitation.

She slammed the state government and claimed that lack of development works and poverty has caused trouble in tribals areas. “The CPM-led government has brought only hunger to the tribals. There has been no development in the Lalgarh-Salboni belt. Instead, the situation has deteriorated over the years,” said the Trinamool leader.

“Instead of addressing the needs of the people and finding a solution to the problem, the administration has adopted the policy of divide and rule among the tribals. This has led to a flare-up. The police should punish the guilty but why are innocent people being arrested,” she added.

The Trinamool chief noted that the CPM gets the maximum number of seats from the three Maoists-affected districts and alleged that both Maoists and CPM are hand in glove. “If there are so many anti-CPM Maoists in this area, then how can the CPM win all seats in West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura. The CPM and the Maoists are the same,” she said.

Banerjee said the time has come to oust the CPM because there is no end to the party’s atrocities. “Be it Nandigram, Singur or Lalgarh, the state government is torturing the common people. Conviction of CPM leaders in Tapasi Malik’s murder case shows they are murdering innocent people in the state. They should be removed from power,” she said.

State Transport and Sports Minister Subhas Chakraborty criticised Banerjee for her supporting the Lalgarh agitation. “ Some forces are trying to create chaos in the state. I condemn those endorsing the agitation,” he said.

Paswan blames state for Salboni blast
The Union Minister for Chemicals, Fertilisers and Steel, Ram Vilas Paswan criticised the West Bengal police for failing to prevent the blast on his convoy at Salboni on November 2.

“So many dignitaries were moving in the convoy but the blast could not be prevented. It was a failure of both the local and the higher administration,” said the minister.