This Article is From Jun 23, 2009

We accept Centre's decision on Maoists: Buddha

We accept Centre's decision on Maoists: Buddha

AFP image

Kolkata:

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Tuesday endorsed the Centre's ban on the underground Maoists.

"We will go with the Centre on Maoists and don't need a special state law," he said.

Barely 24 ago, CPM general secretary Prakash Karat had said that banning Maoists would serve no purpose. So, has Buddhadeb gone against the party line?

"Our approach towards Maoist violence all along has been a dual approach -- to tackle them politically as well as a law and order issue. Whenever, wherever law and order is breached, steps will have to be taken to restore normalcy. There is no difference of opinion on this approach," CPM Politburo member Sitaram Yechury said.

Sources say the Left wants to check the growing influence of Maoists in West Bengal, but they are against a formal ban. And the reason is political.

An official ban would give more powers to the police to crack down against the Maoists. But it may also end up alienating people in the rural areas, especially tribals whose sympathies Maoists are trying to win over. And with assembly elections just two years away, the Left simply can't afford to alienate them.

From Lalgarh to Lavalin case in Kerala, the CPM's central leadership has been busy firefighting.

A CBI court in Kochi has issued summons to CPM Kerala chief Pinarayi Vijayan on the SNC Lavalin case where Vijayan is accused of corruption. But the party maintains it's politically motivated case and they will fight it out in the courts.

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