By IANS,
Kolkata : Trying to drive a wedge between alliance partners, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Saturday slammed the Trinamool for its links with the Maoists and wondered how could the Congress continue its association with a party diametrically opposed to its policies.
“Since the Lok Sabha elections, there is no let-up in violence against our party cadres. Till yesterday (Friday), 167 cadres have been killed. The Trinamool on one hand and the Maoists on the other are continuing their campaign of violence against the CPI-M and the Left,” CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat told media persons here.
Karat asked how could the Trinamool back the Maoists when it was sharing power at the centre with the Congress, which was trying to contain Maoist violence. At the same time he questioned how a party sharing power in the central government could indulge in violence.
“The Trinamool and the Congress have an alliance in West Bengal. But as far as violence is concerned, it is being spearheaded by the Trinamool,” he said.
“It (Trinamool) not only indulges in violence, but also coordinates with the Maoists. The policy of the centre is to counter Maoist violence. But here is a party in that government which is shielding the Maoists and has dubious links with them,” he alleged.
The Congress-Trinamool alliance defeated the communist-led Left Front in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls and is now eyeing a victory in the state assembly elections next year.
On Trinamool Congress’ “stubborn stand” on various economic issues, Karat said: “Right now, we are pointing to a situation where a partner in the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government is adopting an obstructionist position which normally a party at the centre does not do. But that is the reality now.”
“It is for the Congress to decide how it is going with a party whose position on Maoists is contrary to what the central government is doing. On economic and other projects it takes a position which a central government cannot take,” he added.