Nabagram, West Bengal:
Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday ruled out withdrawal of security forces from Maoist-hit areas in West Bengal as demanded by his cabinet colleague and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee.
"The joint forces will operate in Maoist-hit areas of West Bengal and other Maoist-hit states as long as they continue to violate law and order and keep challenging the government," Mukherjee told reporters in Murshidabad district at the end of a National Integration camp.
The Trinamool Congress chief has been demanding withdrawal of joint forces from Maoist-hit areas in West Bengal alleging that Communist Party of India Marxist (CPM) cadre were taking their help in committing atrocities on the people.