File picture of Abhishek Banerjee.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee has triggered a controversy by claiming that the West Bengal government had "killed" Maoist leader Kishenji. The comment is at odds with the state government's stand that he had died in a gun battle in a joint operation by paramilitary forces.
Mr Banerjee, a Parliamentarian of the Trinamool Congress, made the comment in a speech at Belpahari in West Midnapore District on Friday. He had said that the area had witnessed regular murders, which he attributed to Maoist influence, which had been growing since 2008. "But after the Trinamool government came to power, only one person died and that is Maoist leader Kishenji," he said.
"The Mamata Banerjee government, by killing him, has proved that in future, people will have the last word," he added.
Kishenji, a politburo member of the CPI (Maoist), had been a key face of the Maoist movement in the Lalgarh area and one of its main commanders. His death in the Burisole forests of West Midnapore District in November 2011 had sparked controversy, with some claiming that he had been killed by paramilitary forces after they had taken him into custody. The police claimed he had been killed in an encounter.
Days later, Ms Banerjee had said, "I asked the security forces what happened. Didn't you give him a chance to surrender? They said we gave him three days to surrender but the Maoists fired on us."
The opposition Left seized the opportunity to lash out at the government. CPI (M) lawmaker Mohammad Salim said, "A death in an encounter is one thing. Murder is another. Abhishek Banerjee has let out the truth, that the Mamata Banerjee government killed Kishenji."