UPA Cabinet Ministers are patronising Maoists: CPM

CPM leader Sitaram Yechury alleged that the Maoist 'violence is being patronised in Bengal by parties who are in the ruling UPA coalition.'

New Delhi

Bearing the brunt of Maoist attacks in Bengal,the CPI(M) said on Tuesday that the Centre was facing a “contradictory situation” in the matter with the Prime Minister describing Left extremist violence as the greatest threat and his cabinet colleagues “patronising and protecting” these elements.

Responding to questions on the Maoist attack on CPI(M) offices in West Midnapore district yesterday,senior Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury said there was “a pattern (of violence) being unleashed now by targeting our offices,our comrades and supporters”.

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“Unfortunately,this violence is being patronised in Bengal by parties who are in the ruling UPA coalition and the (Central) government today,” he said without directly referring to the Trinamool Congress.

While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described Maoist violence as the greatest threat to internal security,”you have Cabinet Ministers who are patronising Maoists and providing them protection and sustenance,” he said,adding this was a “contradictory situation” being faced by the UPA at the Centre.

Regarding Monday’s attack on the CPI(M) office at Enaitpur,Yechury said the Maoists had “encircled our office and attempted to burn and kill our comrades there. That was resisted. The Maoists fled only after the central and state security forces arrived at the spot.”

He said over 60 CPI(M) activists have been killed since the anti-naxal operations began in the state.

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