Left leaders meet PM over Bengal violence

Left leaders on Friday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and presented him "evidence" of the "nexus" between the Maoists and the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, charging the latter with using violence to expand their political base in the state.

The prime minister expressed deep concern over the violence in the state and assured them that the documents and compact discs submitted by the Left leaders would be sent to the home ministry for a "proper and thorough probe", said Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters after the meeting.

While the prime minister has described the Maoists as the gravest threat to internal security, "some members of his Cabinet are openly engaged with the Maoists and patronizing and protecting them", he charged.

"This contradiction in the Union cabinet is untenable. The government cannot live with this contradiction. The prime minister has to take a decision on this," Yechury said.

Replying to questions, he said the compact discs submitted have recordings of meetings jointly addressed by top Trinamool and Maoist leaders, besides the manner in which CPI(M) and Left workers have been "hounded and killed".

As many as 130 of its workers have been killed so far.

Prominent Maoist leaders have made public statements about the support given to them by the TC, Yechury claimed, adding that the CDs also contain recordings of Maoist leaders expressing support for TC chief Mamata Banerjee becoming the chief minister of the state.

"We have given a detailed memorandum and documentary evidence of their nexus and how the Trinamool is using violence to expand their support base in West Bengal," Yechury said, adding these included details of Left cadres killed in the recent past.

Asked about TC claims that 500 of its supporters have been killed in three months, he said, "Mere claims do not constitute credible evidence. We challenge them to provide details of their cadres killed, as we have done today. Their claims are fabricated and border on the ridicule."

He said the Naxalites, who had originated from Bengal in the late 1960s, have had no support base in the state for the past 32 years.

"Now the Trinamool Congress is bringing them over once again and using them and violence to enhance their political base", he alleged.

Besides Yechury, the delegation included Basudeb Acharia, Brinda Karat (all CPI-M) and Prabodh Panda (CPI).