Counter 'bankrupt' Naxal policies: CPM to govt

Condemning the Maoist attack in Dantewada which claimed 31 lives, the Communist Party of India-Marxist on Tuesday asked the government to take necessary steps to counter the 'bankrupt' policies of the extremists to attack commoners.

"The attack on a private passenger bus by the Maoists only highlights their bankrupt policies of attacking ordinary citizens in various parts of the country, including tribals who refuse to accept their dictates," the party politburo said in a statement in New Delhi.

The party, which has lost 121 cadres in Maoist attacks in three West Bengal districts since the Lok Sabha polls last year, also appealed to the people to raise their voice against the 'murderous' attacks on peaceful citizens and their livelihood.

Asked whether airpower should be used by the government to support anti-Maoist operations, senior party leader Sitaram Yechury said, "These are not matters for public discourse."

"Governments are mandated to uphold the Constitution and those who are in power are under its oath. The Constitution guarantees the right to life and liberty. So the governments will have to take the call and take necessary steps."

Attacking the UPA government, he said the incident took place despite its assurances that all efforts will be made to prevent such attacks from recurring.

"The government should immediately make all efforts to safeguard innocent lives and re-establish the rule of civic administration in these areas," he said.

After the killing of five of its tribal activists in West Bengal by the Left extremists last week, the CPI-M had said such attacks gave "the lie to the manufactured campaign that Maoists are engaged in a struggle to defend the cause of the tribal people and other oppressed sections."

It had also charged certain civil rights groups and intellectuals supporting the Maoists with only speaking out against police and paramilitary operations. It had asked them to clarify whether they were "defending the Maoists so that they carry on such killings of political opponents with impunity".

The CPI-M had also accused the Maoists of helping "anti-Communist forces like the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal".