Mamata demands withdrawal of joint forces from Lalgarh

"We demand that the Centre take steps to ensure withdrawal of the joint forces at Lalgarh where the CPI-M is capturing village after village with the help of joint forces," she told reporters after a party meeting here. The Maoists and the CPI-M were hand in glove and both were torturing innocent villagers in the region, she charged while demanding immediate steps to initiate economic development in the region.

Banerjee said her party was opposed to violence and killing of individuals, but what was happening in the name of joint operation was a "farce". She claimed that only the CPI-M was allowed to hold meetings in the area while curbs were imposed on Opposition parties in West Midnapore district where Lalgarh is located.

Banerjee said the state administration had clamped prohibitory orders over 80 per cent of the area in the district. She demanded that all political parties be allowed to discharge their democratic functions there. She said that a party delegation would go to Delhi to press for the demand while another team would meet the state governor here.