Mamata wonders why CPI(M) not banning Maoists

Kolkata, Nov 6 (UNI) Describing Sunday's landmine blast at Salboni in West Midnapore as the CPI(M)'s ''man-made blast'' plan, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee questioned why the Left Front government was not banning the Maoists in the state.

''The incident at Salboni was man-made and it was the CPI(M)'s artificial plan. If the government of Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and other states could ban the Maoists in their own states, why the ruling party is fearing that the real picture will emerge if the Maoists are banned in the state, '' Ms Banerjee said while addressing a ''Save Democracy Day'' rally, organised by the Trinamool-led Krishi Jami-Jeevan-Jeevika Raksha Committee here.

''We felt that more security should be provided to the Chief Minister and the Trinamool will not go for any compromise with his security. But it does not mean that the people will not know the real truth.'' she added.

''It was mysterious that the blast took place half an hour after Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee left the foundation stone laying ceremony of Jindal's steel plant at Salboni. We feel that the Centre needs to probe the incidents thoroughly,'' Ms Banerjee said.

She alleged that the CPI(M) did not want the industrialists to come in the state as the blasts took place on the day of foundation ceremony.

'' Anybody who protests the policies of the government is tagged as Maoists by the CPI(M). If the government feels that there is a huge presence of Maoists in the state, why are they not being banned.' This is because CPI(M) is in the guise of Maoists,'' Ms Banerjee alleged.

''The CPI(M) has earlier miscampaigned to the people at Singur with regard to setting up of Nano plant at Singur. The CPI(M) is fearing the people as the latter favoured opposition parties in the last panchayat election. Then, why would the government allow the Opposition to organise rallies?'' she said.

She also informed that the Tatas' pull-out move from Bengal was ''totally suspicious''.

''We withdrew our peaceful Satyagraha movement, which lasted for 21 days in line with the agreement made at the Governor's house.

But still, Tata Motors' small Car unit left the state and got land in Gujarat within four days,''she informed.

The government needed to publish a white paper about the secret deal between the CPI(M) and Tata, she said adding the real fact should come out before the public.

''We have taken a series of agitational programmes, including the observance of Nandigram and Singur Divas on November 10, demonstration in front of SP office on November 12 and organising rally in Birbhum on December 1. This also includes demanding the return of land to unwilling farmers at Singur on November 15, organising rally at Singur on December 2, staging stir to demand probe into Salboni incidents on December 18 and demonstration in front of the SP office in North-24 Parganas on December 2,'' she said.

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