First, she suggested that CPM cadres blocked the Rajdhani Express to malign her image. When confirmation came that it was the Maoist-backed PCAPA, Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was ready for a dialogue. And even asked those holding the train hostage to identify a venue.

This, when earlier in the day, Banerjee had taken the families of two missing policemen to meet Home Minister P Chidambaram. And called for the military to be inducted in anti-Maoist operations. What she did not say was that the group which had stopped the Rajdhani was the very group she and her party have supported — and solicited support from — barely months ago. Consider:

* Banerjee and other Trinamool Congress leaders visited Lalgarh soon after the PCAPA was formed after police action following the landmine attack on the Chief Minister’s convoy at Salboni in November 2008.

* In the initial stages of PCAPA’s agitation, Banerjee shared the stage with Chhatradhar Mahato — key Maoist behind the Lalgarh attacks — and other leaders. Today’s protesters demanded Mahato’s release.

* Trinamool Congress leaders again went to Lalgarh during the Lok Sabha campaign with PCAPA help in March-April, 2009.

* After joint security operations began in Lalgarh and there were reports of exodus of villagers, Banerjee sent Sisir Adhikari, Union Minister of State, to hand over relief material to the PCAPA.

* Among the “intellectuals” who sought support for Banerjee on the eve of the Lok Sabha polls on the plank of a “change” for Bengal, were many who had visited Lalgarh and interacted with Mahato. Kaushik Sen and Aparna Sen were among those who called for a stop to the joint security operations.

... contd.