Shantipur (WB), Apr 20 : Accusing Trinamool Congress of having links with Maoists, CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechuri today said the Naxalites were killing left workers with the help of Trinamool.
“The Prime Minister is terming Maoists as the greatest threat to internal security but an important member of his cabinet is having links with them through her party men in Junglemahal,” Yechury said at an election meeting at Shantipur in Nadia district.
Countering Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's charge about the dismal situation in Bengal at a meeting in Shantipur a few hours ago, the Rajya Sabha MP said “Soniaji should know Maoists are disturbing the law and order situation in the state and this is encouraged by a senior cabinet minister and her alliance partner.”
Claiming Left workers had mostly suffered the brunt of Maoist attacks, Yechury said “they have killed 380 CPI(M) activists and supporters in ‘Junglemahal besides scores of other Left partners'.
“But unlike Trinamool, we don't back out in the face of challenge from ultras and even sacrifice our lives for the sake of the state.”
Alleging the UPA government has made poor poorer and rich richer, he said “of the 130 crore population, the daily earning of 80 crore people is below Rs 20 while the number of billionaires rose from 26 to 69 in last two years.” Referring to 2G spectrum controversy, he said the UPA government “plundered Rs 176 crore through the scam” while making the lives of common people like garment traders misearable by imposing a 10 per cent tax on the cotton cloth. “All this to earn Rs 100 crore more at the cost of public,” he said.
Yechury also took a dig at Banerjee for taking whirlwind helicopter tour across the state for campaigning. “Aren't our meetings more crowded than a union minister who keeps hopping around in copters?” he said. The meeting was held in support of local CPI(M) candidate Yaar Mallick. PTI
