USING THE MAOISTS FOR POLITICAL GAIN IS UNETHICAL: UCPI

By SOVAN CHAUDHURI

Chakdaha, April 2,2010: Trinamul Congress partner United Communist Party of India (UCPI) strongly feels that using the Maoists to trounce the CPI (M) in West Bengal would be “unethical”.

In a significant statement UCPI general secretary Sukhbinder Singh Dhaliwal on Friday stated that exploiting the Maoist for political gain would ultimately bring disaster. Mr. Dhaliwal, however, does not feel that the Maoists ultras are the ‘enemy’ of the country and as such they should not be dealt as a secessionist external force. He has appealed the UPA Government to handle the Maoist through a combined process - social, economical and political.

He, however, does not find any wrong in use of force if required.

Mr. Dhaliwal was speaking during the inaugural session of the two days long fourth state party conference in Chakdaha on Friday.

While speaking to media persons he said: “The Maoist have been fighting an internal battle, which is not a ‘law and order’ problem as often interpreted.” “It is rather a problem owing to lack of development and administrative apathy”

He has appealed the center to take sufficient care to ensure that the benefit of development reaches the grass root level and at the same time to fight out the armed movement in appropriate way.”

In a categorical statement he said: “If required arms should be dealt with arms”

However, a difference in opinion surfaced up as the state leaders visibly found embarrassed over Mr. Dhaliwal’s pledge for using force against the Maoist.

Party sympathizer eminent educationist Dr. Tarun Sannyal said: “Arms only can never yield positive result in areas where atrocities dominate and development is a deficient factor.”

Moreover, Dhaliwal’s statement would also embarrass the Trinamul Congress leaders as it often accused of exploiting the Maoists in expanding their bases as well as to accelerate the pace of wave of changes in many areas in the state.

However, the UCPI leadership have vowed to strengthen the anti CPI (M) tirade in the state and planned to join the Congress - Trinamul Congress alliance in the ensuing civic body polls. Mr. Dhaliwal said: “Our aim is to fight the poll on behalf of the alliance.” However, once again a difference in opinion surfaced up on this issue as party’s district secretary Krishna Das claimed: “Fighting the election is not our prime target.” Our objective is to strengthen the anti left forces and for which we are even ready to make sacrifice, he added further.

On such assertion party’s general secretary Dhaliwal was visibly found annoyed and even apprised the media persons that he would make elaborate discussion on the matter with the state leadership later in the session.