Kolkata: Hours after the Left said that it will not ban Maoists in West Bengal, the Union Home Ministry has declared the CPI-Maoist a terrorist organisation.
Reacting to the ban on the Maoists, CPM general secretary Prakash Karat has said that it will not help any purpose.
"If we ban Maoists, they will regroup under another name," said Karat.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, he said that the Maoists must be tackled politically and administratively.
The Left has also attacked Trinamool Congress over the Lalgarh crisis, alleging that the Trinamool and the Maoists are in connivance in Lalgarh.
Karat also said that the Left believes that the Trinamool used Maoists in Lalgarh.
Earlier on Monday, the Left declared that the Maoists won't be banned in a statement.
It must be noted that the Centre has sounded out an alert to five Naxal-hit states against possible violence, as Maoist called for a 48-hour bandh starting on Monday. The bandh was called to protest against the operation underway to secure Lalgarh.
Home Minister P Chidambaram has issued an alert specifically to Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal.
"The wrong politics of the Maoists cannot be countered by banning the organisation. It is necessary to combat their activities by political means," said the statement by the Left Front.
The statement came just two days after West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya had said they could think of banning the Naxals.
There appears to be a divide in the Left on the issue. While Buddhadeb has been persuaded to think about a ban, the Left Front has made its stand clear that it is against the ban.
Meanwhile, after a day mainly combing the surrounding areas, the security forces will on Monday attempt to open up several fronts on the Galtore route towards Lalgarh for easy movement of troops.