KOLKATA: The CPI(M)-Trinamool Congress mud-slinging over Nandigram has restarted with Maoist presence in the region becoming the bone of contention.
Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee told the West Bengal assembly on Thursday that he had specific information on the continued presence of Maoists in Nandigram. He claimed the Trinamool leadership was working closely with Maoist guerrillas.
The claims follow Bhattacharjee’s recent statement that the West Bengal government was not in favour of banning Maoists but wanted to find a political solution to the problem.
Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee retorted saying the chief minister’s remarks were false and mala fide. She said the CPI(M) was trying to create fresh tension in Nandigram for the last couple of days after the withdrawal of the CRPF companies posted there.
“The chief minister has purposely removed the CRPF to help CPI(M) cadres ignite fresh violence in Nandigram,” she said.
On the Left’s withdrawal of support to the Union government, Mamata said it was nothing but a political theatre and that the CPI(M) was blatantly lying on the issue.
“The CPI(M) is lying that they have no idea of the clauses of the Indo-US nuclear deal. They have known each every word of the document since the very beginning.”
Meanwhile, the intelligence branch of the state police has recovered certain key documents and letters in Nandigram which hint at continued Maoist presence in the region. One letter reads, “Sorry, I cannot give you arms at this moment.”
r_sumanta@dnaindia.net
