Mamata blames CPM leaders for violence in Lalgarh

Kolkata, Aug 9 (ANI): Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday blamed CPM leaders for the violence in West Bengal's Lalgarh area.

Addressing a public rally here Mamta accused the Left Government of misrule in West Bengal, and said: "I don't understand the language of guns. We have always won by democratic means."

She said that she is against violence of all kinds, be it by the government or the Maoists.

"Do not kill people. Stop this violence. I am telling the Maoists too- don't kill," she added.

Banerjee also called for an end to the operation against the rebels to create a conducive environment for talks.

Banerjee said the way Maoist leader Cherukuri Rajkumar, alias Azad was killed was not right and asked for a probe into his death.

Azad was killed in an encounter by the State police in Andhra Pradesh on July 2.

The rally was organised under non-political forum 'Santras Virodhi Manch'.

Apart from Trinamool leaders, several Maoist sympathisers such as writer activist Mahasweta Devi, Swami Agnivesh and Medha Patkar attended the rally.

Mamta Banerjee alleged that democracy has been stifled in various places of West Midnapore district by the CPI(M), and said, "We will not hold the rally under the Trinamool banner but Santras Birodhi Mancha to build up a larger democratic movement.

"For the sake of democracy we must rise above political interests," she added. (ANI)