Congress lauds Mamata's Lalgarh rally initiative

August 03, 2010 12:51 am | Updated 12:51 am IST - Kolkata:

The West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) leadership has applauded Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's initiative to hold a “non-political rally on a neutral platform” at Lalgarh in Paschim Medinipur district on August 9. It has expressed the hope that it would help “reinstating democracy” in the Maoist-affected region.

Manas Bhunia, president of the WBPCC, told journalists: “Ms. Banerjee's initiative is appreciated. It points at a very positive direction. The current situation in the Jangalmahal region is akin to living in a colonised country. Hopefully, the new initiative will help bring back normality in the region.”

Dr. Bhunia, however, said that he would not be able to participate in the rally since the Congress had already announced its programme at Tamluk in the adjoining Purbo Medinipur district on the same day.

Strongly defending the Centre's role in sending paramilitary troops to the State for fighting against the Maoists, he said that the Centre was bound by the constitutional framework to provide security support to the State governments when the latter request for such support to maintain law and order.

Trinamool demand

Though the State Congress leadership has come out in favour of the rally at Lalgarh called by its senior alliance partner, the Trinamool Congress is demanding the withdrawal of forces from the region where security operations against the Maoists are on.

“But the State government is utilising the Central forces according to its whims. The number of killings in the region has increased since the security forces are made to sit idle. However, the same forces are criticised when the CPI (M) cadres and State police commit atrocities against tribal women. The Congress has been vocal against this for long now,” Dr. Bhunia said.

Asserting that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government is “trying its best” to tackle the situation under the constitutional framework, he asked why Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee did not visit Lalgarh even once in the last one-and-half years, although Union Home Minister P. Chidamabaram did so last April.

Alleging that the State government had become “a non-entity” and “non-functional,” Dr. Bhunia also criticised the delay, by the State government, in implementing the amnesty scheme for Maoists willing to surrender. Though the Centre had suggested the step much before, it was implemented “very late.”

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