Lalgarh: Buddha says close ties between Maoists, Trinamool

Kolkata Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has reiterated his stand that the Maoists and the Trinamool Congress (TC) are inter-linked, but he does not consider the TC leaders as Maoists. He has said that both the Maoists and the TC are using each other since Nandigram. “The TC and Maoists are inter-linked. Not only in Lalgarh, we have seen a close relation between the two in Nandigram and Khejuri as well,” he said while concluding the debate on the Home (Personnel and Administrative Reforms) Department budget proposal for the fiscal year 2008-2009.

There was confusion after state Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen stated on Wednesday that Chhatradhar Mahato, the leader of the People’s Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA), might not be considered a Maoist. The Congress slammed the state government on the issue and demanded Sen’s dismissal for making a statement which will put a question mark on the joint operation in Lalgarh.

“How can the Home Secretary make such a statement? The CPM state secretary is regularly saying that Chhatradhar Mahato is a Maoist, the Union government has sent Central forces to combat the Maoists, now your home secretary is insisting that Mahato has no link with the Maoists,” said Manas Bhuniya, leader of the Congress Legislative Party.

The CM, defending the Home Secretary, said, “I have talked to the Home Secretary. He has said officially Chhatradhar Mahato is not a Maoist. But he would be booked whenever and wherever he is available. Mahato may not be a Maoist, but he opened the door of Lalgarh for the Maoists. Mahato’s committee was used as a front by the Maoists.”

The CM said one Congress leader had reached the PCPA-run relief camp with rice (as relief material), but the Congress leader will not be considered a Maoist either.

“The CM has told the government that the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) should be used on those who are directly with the CPI(Maoist), which is a banned organisation. But the Act cannot be imposed in a doubtful case. If we get enough evidence about Mahato’s direct link with the Maoists, he will be booked under UAPA, otherwise criminal cases against him will be initiated,” said a senior official of the CM’s secretariat.