Eye on Bengal,Mamata wants Art 355 in Naxal areas

Interestingly,the demand comes close on the heels of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi making a similar demand regarding Central intervention in Bundelkhand — a region across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. It led to protests from both UP and MP and constitutional experts termed it impractical,referring to Centre-state relations.

The Trinamool,on the other hand,feels that use of Article 355 is the only effective tool before the government to root out Naxal menace. “This is the only way Naxalism can be eradicated. It has been proved that states cannot meet the challenge and thus,it’s high time the Centre intervenes directly in these regions,” a senior TMC leader told The Indian Express underlining that Article 355 states,“it shall be the duty of the Union to protect every state against external aggression and internal disturbance”.

The TMC has come up with the demand at a time when the Centre is drawing up a comprehensive plan to root out Left wing extremism (LWE). A draft note for the Cabinet — ‘Meeting developmental & security challenges in the extremist affected areas’ — is being circulated to all the key departments of the government for their opinion.

The note has made the seventh report of the second Administrative Reforms Commission and report of an expert group of the Planning Commission as it base for drawing up the plan. The TMC has been demanding Central intervention in West Bengal and specifically pointing out that the Centre should seize the huge amount of illegal arms and ammunitions amassed by the CPM. The party hopes that if the Centre intervenes,using Article 355,its aim of disarming the Left before the 2011 Assembly polls will be fulfilled.

“We just want the Centre to make limited intervention. Lack of development breeds Maoists and thus the Centre should directly take charge of developing these regions,” said another TMC leader pointing out that separate budgetary allocation should be made for the Naxal areas. It’s not for the first time that suggestion regarding Article 355 has come up.

In the earlier UPA government,the then home minister Shivraj Patil had rejected a similar suggestion saying that it’s not possible for the Centre to overrule the states and take direct charge.