Buddha calls for people’s vigil to tackle Maoist menace

The rally was organised by district Left Front in a bid to rejuvenate supporters who are lying idle since the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

In his half-an-hour speech,Bhattacharjee alleged a nexus between the Trinamool Congress and the Maoists.

“Our state has never witnessed such disturbance before. Few parties are trying to create trouble. We are trying to develop the state,but they are trying to stop work,” he said.

“Maoists have joined their hands with the Trinamool. What the Maoists do,nobody knows. They used to talk about the welfare of the poor,but now they are killing them. We have given power to the poor through panchayats but the Maoists are trying to dislodge them from the rural power centre,”

he added.

Bhattacharjee admitted that Maoists are operating in Purulia,Bankura and West Midnapore districts.

“Maoist from Jharkhand are

committing crimes in Birbhum. They are exploiting the geographical advantage to enter Birbhum,” the chief minister said.

Following his address,he went to the people,avoiding all security cordons. Security personnel went in a tizzy as Bhattacharjee shook hands with the people and exchanged good wishes.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ready to talk peace with Maoists

“If both sides agree,I am ready to mediate to dispel this atmosphere of mistrust…Maoists can be persuaded to shun violence and return to the mainstream as many ULFA leaders did in recent times,” Ravi Shankar told a press conference here.