Kolkata, Aug. 11: Top Maoist leader Kishenji on Wednesday defended the Trinamul Congress chief, Ms Mamata Banerjee, for stating that the killing of the outfit’s spokesman Azad was wrong and said talks could only be held after the withdrawal of anti-Maoist operations.
“There is no doubt that Azad was treacherously murdered. Mamata spoke the truth. So why the furore over the issue in Parliament?” Kishenji said. “The BJP and CPI(M) are shouting over Mamata’s statement and are not asking for a judicial inquiry into the killing of Azad when he was negotiating the government’s proposal for talks.”
“She is part of the government and cannot go against its policies,” he said.
He demanded the resignations of the Union home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and the Andhra Pradesh CM, Mr K. Rosaiah, for Azad’s death.
On talks with the government, he said, “after so much treachery we can still discuss the Centre’s offer of talks at our central and state committees if the Centre stops violence and withdraws Operation Green Hunt.”