Kishenji disillusioned with Lalgarh rally

Kolkata, 1 Sep: Top Maoist leader Kishenji today expressed disenchantment with the 9 August rally at Lalgarh addressed by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, supported by him and the PCPA, and said it was held for "petty political gain" by the party.

"Despite utterances by leaders against terrorisation by the CPI(M) at the rally, Mamata and her party hijacked it for petty political gain to pave the way for her and her party to wean away the people from Maoists and the PCPA, and was much less a peace initiative," Kishenji said in an open letter.

Kishneji said none of the speakers at the rally mentioned the "diabolical murder" of PCPA president Lalmohan Tudu who was killed by the joint forces on 22 February at Kantapahari in West Midnapore district.

The letter dated 28 August also accused social activist Swami Agnivesh, who was mediating between the ultras and the Centre when Maoist chief spokesman Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad who was gunned down on 2 July in an encounter in Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh, as "toeing union home minister P Chidamabaram's line".

Asking Agnivesh, who had been present at the Lalgarh rally, to inquire into "murders in the name of encounter" of central committee members Patel Sudhakar Reddy, Shakamunri Appa Rao besides Azad, the letter, a copy of which was with PTI, said he should work for the establishment of an independent committee to investigate.

He added that the committee should also investigate the "atrocities" by the joint forces and CPI(M) goons.


(PTI)