Maoists are being supported by 'Mao-Mata': BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday criticised the United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre and the Left front government in West Bengal, saying the country has lost national security under the UPA and Bengal has lost all its glory under the Marxists.

"Under UPA, the country has lost national security with tension over its borders with China and Pakistan. While under the Marxist rule, West Bengal has lost all its glory because of infiltration by Bangladeshis and a spurt in Maoist activity," BJP national spokesperson Tarun Vijay told a press conference in Kolkata.

Criticising the Manmohan Singh government, Vijay said, "It remained totally inactive even as China deployed its army along the border with India in the north-east."

Urging immediate steps against the deployment of the Chinese army along India's borders in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, the BJP MP said that if the problem was not countered immediately, it might pose a threat to the nation.

Vijay also criticised China for refusing visa to Indian Army General B S Jaswal on the ground that he headed troops in Jammu and Kashmir, after which India called off defence exchanges last year. He urged the Centre to take up the issue immediately.

China had in 2008 started the practice of issuing stapled visas to people from Jammu and Kashmir, apparently questioning India's sovereignty over the state.

"The country is also facing grave danger with the Centre's failure to utilise crores of international funds under projects in various departments," Vijay said.

Quoting the CAG report, the BJP MP said that Rs 9,000 crore worth of international funds sanctioned to various departments had not been utilised by the Centre.

"It is nothing but criminal negligence on the part of the Centre," he said.

He held the Marxists responsible for the rise of Maoists and infiltration of Bangladeshis into the state.

The BJP MP said, "The Maoists are now being supported by Mao-Mata (apparently referring to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee)."