Mamata Sticks to Lalgarh Remarks, May Play Mediator
Sticking to her guns, Union minister for railways and chief of the Trinamool Congress (TC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday dug in her heels over her controversial remarks, claiming the killing of Maoist leader Azad was a murder, much to embarrassment of the Congress-led Union government.
Mamata however clarified that she made the remarks as a party leader and not in her capacity as a Union minister at the Lalgarh rally on August 9.
The statement had evoked a strong response from the main Opposition BJP and Left parties, who demanded an explanation from prime minister Manmohan Singh on the remarks.
Welcoming Maoist leader Kishenji’s ceasefire offer, Mamata said dialogues could help overcome all problems, but iterated that only the Centre could take a final decision on the matter. She also indicated that she was willing to enact the role of a mediator.
“Whatever I have said in Lalgarh as a Trinamool Congress chief I stick to it. I made the statement in my party capacity,” Mamata, whose description of Azad’s encounter death in Andhra Pradesh as a ‘murder’ also had kicked up a row in Parliament, was quoted as saying.
She was speaking to newsmen outside her residence before leaving for Delhi after undergoing treatment for the injuries she suffered in an accident while returning back to Kolkata from Lalgarh after addressing the August 9 rally.
“It is for the government to decide how they want to proceed. I cannot interfere because there is a separate ministry for that. I have seen only the media reports on Kishenji’s statement. Let me cross check all details,” said the firebrand leader while referring to Kishenji’s statement calling for a three-month ceasefire by both sides.
Responding to queries over Kishenji’s willingness to have her as a mediator, Mamata said, “If anybody wants to discuss the matter with me and wants my opinion I can give that. But we think all these matters should be sorted out through negotiations only.”
She attributed her stance to an aspiration to save the lives of people and safeguardingbthe c ountry’s security.
“I have heard the Independence Day speeches of the Honourable president and the Honourable prime minister. They also spoke on the same line. If they (Maoists) responded to the president’s and prime minister’s appeal, it is good for the country. Let the problem be solved through democratic process.”
“We want that all people (including Maoists) should come to the mainstream. We are proud of our country. It is for the government to decide (on talks with Maoists). I did not talk to the government regarding this.”
Meanwhile, The West Bengal Congress welcomed the Trinamool Congress leader as a mediator in the peace talks with the Maoists. But added that the process would depend on the opinion of the state and central governments.
“I have no objection to accept Mamata Banerjee as mediator in talks with the Maoists for peace process,” WBPCC president Manas Bhuniya was quoted as saying in response to queries about Maoist leader Kishenji’s offer to Banerjee to mediate in the peace process.
“However the entire process depends on the opinion of the Centre and the state government,” Mr. Bhuniya added.
Taking a contrary stand, the CPI(M) ruled out possibilities of accepting Mamata as a mediator in talks with the Maoists saying an arbitrator has to be neutral.
“If anyone wants to become arbitrator in any talks, one has to be neutral. An arbitrator should be acceptable to all. We do not have any objection to Mamata Banerjee becoming the mediator, but her utterances are in support of Maoists,” CPI(M) central committee member Mohammed Selim was quoted as saying in Kolkata.
“Maoists and TC have contacts and they have interaction at different levels,” he charged adding those wanted by the CBI in Gyaneshwari train derailment were seen attending the August 9 rally at Lalgarh addressed by Mamata.
(Based on Media Reports)
