Buddha’s Delhi speech in absentia claims order in Lalgarh

According to the CM’s speech,which has been released by his secretariat three days after the August 17 meeting in Delhi,Bhattacharjee wanted that the Union government allow the Central forces to remain in Lalgarh till the Jharkhand operation was over.

“There is a need to launch such an operation without delay and to continue the operation in our state till that (Jharkhand operation) is over,” the draft of the speech,which also dwells on the Darjeeling issue,says. “A joint operation by the state police,CRPF and BSF had been launched on June 18 to regain control over Lalgarh. The operation has been acclaimed by a large section of people. It has restored order in most of the villages and made it possible to restart development work,” it says.

However,senior officers in the home department disputed the CM’s portrayal of the situation in Lalgarh and his claim that 67 Maoists were arrested.

“How can the CM claim that order has been restored in most of the villages when the state home secretary has admitted that the operation has failed,” said a senior officer.

While top Maoist leader Kishenji has announced he is still around in Lalgarh,Chhatradhar Mahato,the PCAPA leader,is moving about freely in Lalgarh and holding public meetings.