Mamata Banerjee suspects Joint conspiracy to eliminate her

Zeenews Bureau

Kolkata, 19 November 2011: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said she has reports that ’a joint conspiracy’ has been hatched to eliminate her and some of her colleagues. 

 

"We have reports that a joint conspiracy is on to eliminate me and some of the Trinamool Congress leaders. But I am not worried about it. I believe people will resist it," the CM told a news channel when asked to comment on reports of central intelligence information about a plot to eliminate her and 11 of her colleagues. 

 

"Those who are scared of us and have been alienated from the masses and destroyed the state leaving a debt of Rs two lakh crore on us and imported supari killers, are conspiring," she said hinting at CPI(M). 

 

Asked to specify who the conspirators were, she said "some are also conspiring in Delhi." 

 

Asked if she was talking about the Centre, an individual or a political party, Banerjee said "I am talking about a political party. It is nothing new. It is an old model. I am not taking any name. I am only talking about a joint conspiracy." 

 

Banerjee said "let the people see the face and the mask of the conspirators." 

Turning to Congress, an ally of Trinamool Congress in the UPA with which relations have been uneasy, Banerjee talked about its "nexus" with CPI(M). 

 

"The Congress in West Bengal has been regularly abusing us without judging the situation. We can also reply. But we are not doing do it. Those who are totally opposed to us are doing this," the chief minister said. 

 

Referring to a Youth Congress procession against political violence and police inaction in the state led by Congress MPs Mausam Benazir Noor, state YC president, and Deepa Dasmunshi here during the day, Banerjee said "they (Congress) have always patronised CPI(M) and strengthened their hands. 

 

"Some of their (Congress’) leaders are regularly criticising us in a CPI(M)-run TV channel. Congress has to decide which side it will take--with CPI(M) or with us. The party will have to decide in West Bengal as also in Delhi on this. We do not stay with CPI(M). This is our party decision. Trinamool Congress has enough strength to fight," she said. 

 

The Trinamool chief said "we are not dependent on Congress. Rather, they are depending on us (in Delhi)." 

 

"We had no face-to-face quarrel with our alliance partner Congress. If anyone (Congress) has any problem, we can sit and sort out. But it is not proper to take out procession. 

 

"I feel sad when Congress speaks on behalf of CPI(M). We are not weak and are ready to fight against Congress, CPI(M) and Maoists." 

 

She said there would be an inquiry into the Maoist posters found at "Khadya Bhavan" threatening the life of Food Minister Jyotipriya Mullick for opening food outlets in Naxal-hit junglemahal. 

 

As per reports, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) had issued a warning that Maoist rebels active in West Bengal are planning to eliminate Mamata Banerjee along with twelve of her cabinet ministers. 

 

The warning from the IB holds significance as over a dozen pamphlets declaring Naxals’ plan to kill Mamata was recovered yesterday from the office of state’s food & civil supplies minister. 

 

The IB warning comes days after the CM asked the security forces to intensify anti-Maoist operation in the Jangalmahal and other Naxal-infested areas of West Bengal. 

 

Mamata had recently announced that the joint forces operation against the Maoists will begin soon and those who support them will also be arrested. 

 

West Bengal CM’s announcement came after the ultras called off the ceasefire. 

 

Putting the onus of peace talks on the West Bengal government, the Maoists in a letter to the interlocutors had called off the mutual cease-fire agreed earlier. 

 

Banerjee’s announcement of the commencement of the joint forces operation also came after two Trinamool Congress supporters were killed by the Maoists in Balrampur area of Purulia district. 

 

Mamata, while condemning the Maoists attack, equated them as terrorists who are using women as a shield to mislead the common man. 

 

Asserting that her government won’t adopt a sit back and watch approach to Maoist excesses, Mamata had said the peace process in Maoist-hit areas will continue but violence will no longer be tolerated. 

 

The state government has also brought back former West Midnapore SP Manoj Verma from compulsory wait to head the counter insurgency force. 

 

The security forces recently carried out searches and raids in Purulia and West Midnapore districts and seized a huge quantity of arms, ammunition and explosive material. 

 

Two INSAS rifles, 100 rounds of AK47 and INSAS rifle ammunition, 60 kg of explosive materials, mines, gelatine sticks and fuse wire were seized from Purnapani, an area between Salboni and Lalgarh police stations in West Midnapore district. 

 

Interestingly, responding to Chief Minister’s call, a hardcore Maoist couple, against whom several cases of murder and violence including the deadly attack on a paramilitary camp in Silda were pending, surrendered yesterday before the police. 

 

The wanted top Maoists--Jagari Baskey(26) and her husband Rajaram Soren(34)--were also presented before the Trinamool Congress supremo, who welcomed their decision and promised that the West Bengal government would take care of those who would surrender and eschew violence.