Where's the logic, CPI-M asks Trinamool Congress over central forces demand

The CPI(M) today mocked at Trinamool Congress for demanding central forces to prevent the Left party from allegedly smuggling illegal arms, saying it was strange as it has so far been seeking withdrawal of the same forces from the state.

"Earlier they were demanding withdrawal of central security forces and stopping of joint security operations against Maoists. Now, they want central forces to be sent. Where is the logic," CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters here.

Terming as "baseless and rubbish" Trinamool Congress (TC) charges that CPI(M) was mobilising illegal arms fearing defeat in the upcoming assembly polls, he said, "if arms are being illegally brought in from abroad, they (TC) are in the central government. Let them raise it in the Cabinet."

Yechury's comments came after TC MPs staged a protest in the Parliament House complex alleging that the Left Front government was smuggling illegal arms from Bangladesh, Nepal and China. They also demanded sending of central forces to capture these illegal arms from CPI(M) offices in West Bengal.

Asked to comment on TC chief and railway minister Mamata Banerjee's statement that her comment on Maoist leader Azad's death was made in personal capacity, Yechury shot back "if she had gone to the Lalgarh rally (where she had made the statement) in her personal capacity, then why did she take the Railway Protection Force?"

Banerjee had termed as "murder" the death of Azad in a police encounter and had described the Maoist leader as a "martyr" and "it is all there on TV channels", he said.

Yechury said it was unfortunate that "the political opportunism of the UPA government for having numbers in the Lok Sabha" was allowing "completely contradictory" stand between TC and the government to continue, adversely affecting national unity and integrity.

"How tenable is the Union (railway) minister's stand when the prime minister has called Maoists the gravest threat to national unity and integrity?

"It is a complete contradictory position vis-a-vis that of the government. If that is the stated position of Trinamool which is a partner in the government, then it is a question of constitutional impropriety," the CPI(M) leader said.

Regarding TC's demand for privilege against Rajya Sabha leader of opposition Arun Jaitley for his speech attacking Banerjee on the Maoist issue, Yechury said "instead of a privilege notice, they have addressed a letter to the (Rajya Sabha) deputy chairman. They know very well that it will not be accepted as such a notice has to be moved to the chairman. So, it is only thundering and posturing by TC".