Kolkata:
The Mamata-Buddha war of words over Maoists is getting uglier, and the state home secretary is caught in the middle.
Does the Trinamool Congress have links with the Maoists in West Bengal? Buddhadeb Bhattacharya says yes and Mamata Banerjee says no. Now the state home secretary has joined the debate, but once for and then against.
On Monday evening, he first said the state had no evidence of any links between the Trinamool and Maoists. Three hours later, he changed his stand. Without naming names, he said the state indeed had intelligence about links between the Maoists and some mainstream political parties. Mamata has, meanwhile, threatened to sue Buddhadeb for defamation.
At a routine press briefing on Monday evening, Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen was asked if there were links between the Trinamool and the Maoists. Sen categorically said the police had no such evidence.
Sen's comment came barely 24 hours after the chief minister told a public rally in West Midnapore's Debra that the Trinamool and the Maoists were hand in glove.
"The Maoists are trying to expand their base hand in hand with the Trinamool. Let us free the state from the Maoist-Trinamool path of destruction," said Buddhadeb.
Sen's statement is believed to have triggered considerable outrage in Left circles, with feedback reaching Buddhadeb himself. Hours later, Sen changed his statement.
The police, he said, indeed had information about local level links between Maoists and some mainstream political parties. I am not naming any particular party, he added.
Now Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has threatened to sue Buddhadeb for accusing the Trinamool of having links with the Maoist.
"Buddhadeb is attacking us irresponsibly. He should think ten times before he attacks us like this. He went to Debra and agitated the people," she said.
The issue threatens to add fat to the already fiery politics in West Bengal.
Does the Trinamool Congress have links with the Maoists in West Bengal? Buddhadeb Bhattacharya says yes and Mamata Banerjee says no. Now the state home secretary has joined the debate, but once for and then against.
On Monday evening, he first said the state had no evidence of any links between the Trinamool and Maoists. Three hours later, he changed his stand. Without naming names, he said the state indeed had intelligence about links between the Maoists and some mainstream political parties. Mamata has, meanwhile, threatened to sue Buddhadeb for defamation.
At a routine press briefing on Monday evening, Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen was asked if there were links between the Trinamool and the Maoists. Sen categorically said the police had no such evidence.
Sen's comment came barely 24 hours after the chief minister told a public rally in West Midnapore's Debra that the Trinamool and the Maoists were hand in glove.
"The Maoists are trying to expand their base hand in hand with the Trinamool. Let us free the state from the Maoist-Trinamool path of destruction," said Buddhadeb.
Sen's statement is believed to have triggered considerable outrage in Left circles, with feedback reaching Buddhadeb himself. Hours later, Sen changed his statement.
The police, he said, indeed had information about local level links between Maoists and some mainstream political parties. I am not naming any particular party, he added.
Now Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has threatened to sue Buddhadeb for accusing the Trinamool of having links with the Maoist.
"Buddhadeb is attacking us irresponsibly. He should think ten times before he attacks us like this. He went to Debra and agitated the people," she said.
The issue threatens to add fat to the already fiery politics in West Bengal.
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