CPI-M slams Chidambaram's 'partisan approach'

Charging Home Minister P Chidambaram with adopting a 'partisan approach', the Communist Party of India - Marxist on Monday said the purpose of his letter to the West Bengal government on the alleged role of armed CPI-M cadres was meant to 'serve the political interests of Trinamool Congress'.

The party also sought an explanation from him, saying the media was briefed about his letter to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee even before it reached the state government.

"The media is fully briefed about the letter even before the chief minister gets it. This shows that the purpose of the letter is to serve the political interests of the Trinamool Congress which is part of the Union government," the CPI-M Politburo said in a statement.

It said the media reported in detail the content of the letter sent by the minister "regarding the alleged role of armed cadres of the CPI-M. However, such a letter was not received by the chief minister till three days later on December 27".

Maintaining that the media was briefed about the content of the letter on December 24, the party said, "This is a strange way of communication between the Union home minister and the chief minister of a state."

The CPI-M said that the Union home minister owed 'an explanation for this partisan approach'.

In his letter, Chidambaram has questioned the West Bengal government on its use of central forces in the state, saying the killing of activists of political parties point to a 'virtual collapse' of law and order there.

His letter came in the wake of ally Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee alleging misuse of central security forces in the state and offering to quit if her charge was proved wrong.

A Trinamool Congress delegation had also met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and conveyed to him their charges about misuse of central security forces in the state.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Monday said he had received Chidambaram's letter.

"I have received the letter. I will give a reply," he told reporters at the state secretariat when asked about Chidambaram's letter.

On Sunday, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had said the state should reply to the letter.