Mamata demands army deployment in Maoist affected areas of WB

"We are not asking for Article 356 (President's Rule) to win elections. Government must act as per the Constitution and protect the minorities, women and weaker sections in West Bengal," TC Chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee told reporters after meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here.

Trinamool Congress members yesterday created a ruckus in the Lok, protesting the CPI(M)'s "continuous attack" on its workers in West Bengal, leading to brief adjournment of the House.

Banerjee said her party had won the recent Lok Sabha polls, assembly by-elections and local bodies "without Article 356. We just want to protect our democratic system and safety and security of the people. We are neither for Article 355 nor Article 356. We want the genocide to stop in Bengal."

However, Banerjee demanded deployment of army in the Maoist-affected districts of West Midnapur, Purulia and Bankura "to recover arms being used by Maoists and to restore law and order in the area".

Asked whether she stuck to the demand for imposition of President's Rule in the state, she said "we are for genocide to stop and rule of the law must prevail."
Banerjee along with her party delegation met Manmohan Singh here this afternoon.

On her meeting with the Prime Minister, Banerjee said "We told him everything and handed over all details regarding the continuous violence unleashed by these elements. We want protection of minorities, people from weaker sections, women and others who are targeted under the CPI(M) rule and rule of the law should prevail."

About the PM's response she said he gave a patient hearing and expressed concern over the political violence in the state. "He agreed that rule of law should prevail."
Accusing the CPI(M) of being hand in glove with Maoists, she said "they are CPI (Marxists) in the day and CPI (Maoist) at night."
When it was pointed out that many CPI(M) workers were also being killed in the violence, she said, "I want that no one should be killed and rule of the law should prevail. Many of our party workers are also killed in the violence.