Maoist snub JMM as 'traitors' for supporting UPA on nuke deal

Ranchi, Jul 21 (UNI) The Jharkhand government today stepped up security in view of the Maoists' bandh called tomorrow to protest alleged horse-trading indulged in by parliamentarians, particulaly from the state, to pledge support to the Congress-led UPA government on nuclear deal.

Accusing Jharkhand Mukti Morcha president Sibu Soren of indulging in horse trading while providing support to the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government on the deal, the proscribed outfit CPI(Maoist) has called for a bandh tomorrow in bordering areas--Jamshedpur and Saraikela mainly.

Talking to UNI, police official S N Pradhan today said the government was aware of the moist-sponsored bandh and the posters put up by them to express concern over the nuke deal and subsequent horse-trading indulged in by the MPs to pledge support to the UPA during the floor test tomorrow.

''We are taking measures to maintain law and order during the bandh,'' Mr Pradhan said.

Coming openly against the nuke deal, the Maoists threatened to paralayse life in bordering areas of the state if JMM extendend its support to Centre on the issue.

In a handout sent to a section of the media here, the outfit claimed that it was carefully monitoring the horse-trading of MPs in national capital and also keeping a close watch on JMM MPs who were up for sale.

The outfit also charged the JMM president with selling party MPs for their personal interest.

''Soren, who claims to be the Guruji of innocent tribals masses, has already carried out unsavory reputation of selling himself in Parliament for money,'' the handout issued by CPI(Maoist)'s West Bengal-Jharkhand-Orissa Border Area regional committee secretary said.

The outfit protesting the nuke deal, said that it would launch a massive campaign against the JMM if the party voted in favour of the deal during floor test of Manmohan Singh-led government.

''We will launch statewide campaign to expose them and ensure that the party leaders are not permitted to enter their villages once they return after the July 22 trust vote,'' it said.

However, the police remained tight-lipped about threat perception on the JMM leaders.

UNI AM-PRS KK DB1815