New Delhi: Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee's statement terming the killing of Communist Party of India(Maoist) leader Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad as "not correct" led to pandemonium in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday with the Opposition demanding as explanation from the Government. The House saw rare unity between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left Front with both of them criticising the Trinamool Congress chief.
The BJP gave a notice for suspension of Question Hour in the Lok Sabha and demanded discussion on Mamata's statement on Naxals. But Lok Sabha Meira Kumar rejected the BJP's notice, saying the issue would be discussed during Zero Hour.
Trinamool Congress MPs vigorously protested when BJP leader Gopinath Munde raised the issue of Lalgarh rally of Mamata. However, Munde got an unexpected support from Left Front MPs who blamed the TMC of fanning violence.
Raising the issue Munde said, "Mamata said Operation Green Hunt should be stopped and also demanded enquiry into Azad's death calling it a murder. Is the Center taking any steps to stop Naxalism in the 216 Naxal-affected districts? Railway Minister and Home Minister are giving conflicting statements. What is the Government's stand? Will there be an enquiry into Azad's death? Why is the Prime Minister and Leader of the House (Pranab Mukherjee) quiet?"
Intervening in the debate, Pranab Mukherjee replied that the Government would ascertain the position from the Railway Minister. "At this stage I can't say anything more," he said.
TMC MP Sudip Bandopadhyaya defended his party chief, saying that Mamata Banerjee went with a message of peace that killing must stop and also accused the CPI-M of taking political mileage out of the operations against Naxals.
"We hope not just Government of India but all political parties will support Mamata. She could have died yesterday as a lorry crashed into her convoy. CPM is taking help of the central forces in trying to capture their lost bases," said Bandopadhyaya.
"Lalgarh was visited by (Union Home Minister) Chidambaram last month. Mamataji said we are gainst politics of violence. We want to see peace. Mamata Banerjee can bring peace in the area. She has the courage. Central forces have to be withdrawn immediately. What we are saying is that we are a party which believes in peace and harmony. We want development of the area. Lalgarh is a very poor and underdeveloped area. We are totally opposed to the killings. There is no politics in it. We are taking a lead so that Maoist problem is solved throughout the country. Let the House and Government endorse Mamata's visit," he added.
The issue was also raised by the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, which had to be adjourned till 12 noon following uproar by the MPs.
While addressing a rally in the Naxal bastion of Lalgarh on Monday the Railway Minister claimed that Azad was killed even though he had agreed to hold talks with the government on behalf of the Naxals.
"The way Azad was killed was not correct. Agnivesh and others had persuaded him to sit for the peace talks but he was killed before the peace talks could begin. I feel that the peace talk should resume again. From this platform we pay respect to the departed soul," Mamata had said.
Azad, who was a member of the CPI (Maoist) Politburo and a spokesperson for the rebels, was killed by police in an encounter in Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh on July 2.
Mamata had also appealed to Naxals to halt killings saying joint operations against them by central and state security forces should be withdrawn once they come to negotiations.
Comments
0 comment