West Bengal govt accepts Central ban on Maoists

Kolkata, June 23 (PTI) The Left Front government in the
eastern Indian state of West Bengal Tuesday accepted the
Centre's ban on the Communist Party of India-Maoist under the
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

"This is applicable for the entire country, all states
and we have accepted it. But how to implement it is the
government's business," Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
told reporters after a cabinet meeting here.

The chief minister said the Centre had included the CPI
(Maoist) in the list of 34 organisations which had been banned
under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

"This had become necessary as the People's War Group
(PWG) and the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC), which figured in
the list, had merged to form the CPI (Maoist)," he said.

Bhattacharjee said the Maoists could be tackled through a
slew of initiatives along with administrative measures.

"We have to ensure socio-economic development of areas
where they (Maoists) are active, isolate them politically and
initiate administrative measures against them."

Pointing out that the Centre had been insisting on states
raising their own forces to combat terrorism and also Maoists,
he said his government would raise a new combat force to
counter terrorist activities.

The Kolkata Police would be entrusted with this task,
while the strength of existing forces would be increased and
their training updated, Bhattacharjee, who holds the Home
(Police) portfolio, said.

Referring to West Midnapore district's underdevelopment
which led to the Maoists increasing their sphere of influence
there, he said, "Whatever development had been done was not
adequate and the district needs more development."

"Lack of development is only one cause."

The state government set up a task force on
socio-economic
development in tribal areas a year ago, which has been working
effectively, the chief minister said.

The government had spent Rs 13 crore on programmes mooted
by the taskforce.

Headed by the chief secretary, the taskforce was working
in the areas of education, health, roads and drinking water.
PTI AKB