Rajdhani CLASS sustains the Interanl Security Hype to Sustain Environment of ethnic Cleansing as India, China, Australia on fast recovery track!US recession ends, unofficially!

Troubled Galaxy Destroyed Dreams, Chapter 413

Palash Biswas

5 Trinamool, CPI-M Leaders Killed in Bengal
Midnapore (WB) | Oct 29, 2009
In stepped-up violence in West Bengal, suspected Maoists killed three Trinamool Congress members and two CPI-M leaders while abducting three Lefts supporters, a senior official today said.

Two Trinamool local leaders Jalad Baran Kar and Ashis Kar were called out of their homes by unidentified gunmen at Bamundiha village under Belpahari police station in West Midnapore district and shot dead, District Magistrate Narain Swarup Nigam said.

Police sources, however, said the assailants were Maoists.

In neighbouring Bankura district, Trinamool supporter Ajit Das had his throat slit and body thrown into a pond at Sangroghat under Ingas police station, SP Vishal Garg said.

CPI-M local leaders Tapan Mody and Dilip Mahato were taken away by Maoist-backed People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) supporters from Raghunathpur and Goaltore areas in West Midnapore district last night and their mutilated bodies found today, police said.

Three CPI-M local committee members -- Ratan Patra, Gadadhar Patra and Kartik Dey -- were abducted from Goaltore in the same district during the day in retaliation for the kidnap of a PCPA supporter from Hatipota village yesterday allegedly by Marxists, they said.

Michelle Obama’s advise: Do not fall for cute looks
London: US First Lady Michelle Obama has advised young women of her country not to choose life partners on the basis of looks.

In an interview by TV news anchor Katie Couric for Glamour magazine's December issue, American President's Barack Obama's wife insisted that a person's physical features are transitory.

"Cute is good. But cute only lasts for so long, and then it's, Who are you as a person? Don't look at the bankbook or the title. Look at the heart. Look at the soul," the Telegraph quoted her as saying.

She added: "When you're dating a man, you should always feel good. You shouldn't be in a relationship with somebody who doesn't make you completely happy and make you feel whole."

Michelle revealed that the people who have inspired her in life are her parents.

She said: "They were the people in my life. My mom, for sure. My dad. The teachers. For me, role-modelling was immediate, it was touchable "Children connect with who is in their lives, present and accounted for.

"That's why we're trying to encourage moms, teachers, fathers, to be that presence in their children's lives, in their communities, because it really makes a difference."

Michelle further mentioned that she understands the public attention she receives because of her position and role as the leading lady of the nation.

She added: "People are always going to have opinions, and people have a right to their opinions, particularly when you're the First Lady; you're representing the nation.

"So I can't be surprised that people are interested. But I've tried to be at peace with the choices that I make first, and then be open to everyone else's reflection.

"I have always tried to put my kids first, and then put myself a really close second, as opposed to fifth or seventh. One thing that I've learned from male role models is that they don't hesitate to invest in themselves."

Source: ANI

US recession ends, unofficially
Reuters

Washington The US economy grew in the third quarter for the first time in a year, beating market expectations, as consumer spending and new home-building rebounded, signaling the end of the worst recession in 70 years.
The Commerce Department, in its first estimate of third-quarter gross domestic product on Thursday, said the economy grew at a 3.5 per cent annual rate, the fastest pace since the third quarter of 2007, after contracting 0.7 per cent in the April-June period.

The growth pace in GDP, which measures total goods and services output within US borders, was above market expectations for a 3.3 per cent rate. The economy last grew in the second quarter of 2008.

"Better than expected GDP is confirming that the Great Recession has ended," said Kevin Flanagan, fixed-income strategist for Global Wealth Management at Morgan Stanley in Purchase, New York.

"The question going forward is, is this more of a statistical recovery or are we going to get some meaningful momentum on a sustained basis."

US stock index futures prices rose after the economic data. The dollar rose against the yen, and US government debt prices extended their decline on the better-than-expected reports.

Recessions in the United States are dated by the National Bureau of Economic Research and the private-sector group often takes months to make determinations. The economy slipped into recession at the end of 2007 and has been in the worst downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

The third-quarter recovery was generally broad-based, with solid gains in consumer spending, exports and home construction.

It was also driven by government programs like the popular discount on some new motor vehicle purchases, which stimulated auto sales and production, and a $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers.

The auto discount program ended in August and the home tax credit is due to expire next month. In the absence government support, there are fears that the sprouting economic recovery could falter, with rising unemployment also inflicting damage.

Consumer spending, which accounts for over two-thirds of US economic activity, surged at a 3.4 per cent rate in the third quarter, the fastest advance since the first quarter of 2007. Spending fell at a 0.9 per cent rate in the previous quarter.

Residential investment, which was the main force behind the downturn, jumped at a 23.4 per cent rate in the third quarter, contributing to GDP for the first time since 2005, after declining 23.3 per cent in the April-June period.

The surge in consumer spending and residential investment was likely driven by government stimulus programs.

The economic recovery in the third quarter was also supported by a sharp moderation in the pace of inventory liquidation by business. Business inventories fell $130.8 billion, slowing from a record $160.2 billion plunge in the second quarter.

The change in inventories added nearly 1 per centage point to real GDP in the third quarter.

Analysts are hoping that the slowdown in the inventory decline by businesses will continue to support the economy in the fourth quarter, even as consumer spending is expected to retreat under the weight of the worst labor market in 26 years.

Excluding inventories, GDP rose at a 2.5 per cent rate compared to a 0.7 per cent increase in the second quarter.

The weak dollar boosted exports, but a rise in imports subtracted from real GDP during the quarter. Federal government spending contributed to growth, but both state and local governments were a drag.

Business investment fell at 2.5 per cent pace, with investment nonresidential structures dropping 9 per cent, a reflection of ongoing problems in the commercial property market.

A separate report from the Labor Department showed the number of US workers filing new claims for jobless benefits dipped by 1,000 last week to 530,000 last week.

Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast claims to fall to 521,000 last week from 531,000.

Continued claims of people still on jobless aid after an initial week of benefits slid by 148,000 to 5.797 million in the week ending October 17. It was the lowest reading since March.
Reuters

Rajdhani Express Hijack Drama has exposed the Internal SECURITY Hype as the Minority dominating Ruling class does EVERY Thing to ENSURE the Environment of ETHNIC Cleansing and Media follows suit.On the other hand, ECONOMIC Reforms PUSHED Further with Military Option and Zero Intolerance with all kind of VOTE Bank Turnaround and Multi dimensional HYPOCRICY as clear in the Ruling manusmriti hegemony in Bengal as India, China, Australia on fast 'recovery' track, claims International Monetary Fund to give Chettiyar Chidambarma Nilekani and Montek Singh AhluwaliaFREE and Indian Incs FREE Hands !We as Railway COMMUTERS suffer so much in day to day life, NO ONE cares. During Every bandh and Political Flare up, on Religious occasion Railway as well as Roadways TRAFFIC remain Standstill. No one initiates to resolve the stand off continuing for days. Railway Security for ordianry Trains, means NOTHING. We remain Hostage during our Travel dependent on Destiny!But an ELITE Train destined to New delhi is stopped during a Bandh and it creats National Calamity unprecedented without no clue, no virtual follow Up!Meanwhile, Home Minister P Chidambaram today hit out at CPI(M) for seeking to link Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee to Rajdhani Express hijack and talked tough on Maoist violence, saying no democracy can accept "violence as an instrument of change".

I have been writing so often that neither Terror nor Insurgency may BLOOM without Hegemony protection. One or the other faction supports and protects specific groups. We saw in happen in Punjab and the Nation Faced the consequences. It is happening in the North East since the Beginning. Political parties and politicians NURTURED Maoism it is no secret. Latest example is ULFA as the pro-talk faction of ULFA''s 28 Battalion today held talks with a Central representative for the first time, raising hopes for negotiations with the banned group fighting for a separate state. Pro-talk leader Mrinal Hazarika told reporters that initial parleys were held with Additional Director of Intelligence Bureau R N Ravi.

"We told the senior officer to ensure that the dialogue process be speeded up and our demands discussed to reach a political solution to our problems," Hazarika said. The meeting was held at an undisclosed location with the government officials refusing to provide details.There was no representative of the state government in the meeting, he said.

The central government Thursday initiated the first round of formal talks with the pro-talk faction of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), brightening hopes that the deadlocked peace process would get a boost.

Rivals best known as Committed enemies not as Politicians, Ms Mamata Banerjee, the Railway Minster as well as the chief Minister of bengal, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, Key power stones of the MDC hegemony in India, appear with Soft Stance against so called maoist menace eying at the next Assembly elections! As the Railways has lodged a complaint against 'unknown persons' for the seizure and release of Bhubaneswar-Delhi Rajdhani Express in West Midnapore district yesterday.How FUNNY! They charge against each other and Never do EXPOSE the Contradictions in practical Maoism or Marxism, both indulged in Promoting Freem market democracy and ethnic cleansing, genocide culture!On the other hand, Kishanjee, the Revolutionary Hero created by Media only comes to defend Ideology non Existing !

The CPI(Maoist) today rubbished charges levelled by the CPI-M that Trinamool Congress was patronising Maoists, saying the Left party was trying to keep itself afloat by making such allegations.

"There is no need for us to have the CPI(M) or the Trinamool Congress as allies," Maoist leader Kishenji told PTI on CPI(M)'s allegations that the outfit was protected by TC.

"It is not only Sitaram Yechury, but all top CPI(M) leaders have lost touch with the people and are trying to create a sensation," Kishneji said.

On the CPI(M)'s contention that Trinamool leader and Union Minister of State Sisir Adhikari had prior knowledge of the attack on the Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express on October 27 in West Midnapore district, Kishenji claimed that even he was not aware of it.

"I don't know who had prior information about the Rajdhani Express blockade. Even I didn't have any information about it. The tribals blocked the train during a bandh called by them. This is normal," he said.

"When all parties have the democratic right to protest and call bandhs, why not tribals?" he asked.

Amusingly, maistream Political parties believed to be DEMOCRATIC, sparred over the Rajdhani express hostage drama in West Bengal with the CPI-M accusing Trinamool Congress of having a hand and providing "political patronage" to extremists while the Congress dismissed these charges as "baseless and ridiculous."

The daring action by a Maoist-backed group of tribal activists holding up the Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani in West Midnapore district yesterday triggered a fresh round of attack by the CPI-M against the Trnamool. Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool was accused of being "in collusion" with these disruptive forces.

It was known that Trinamool and Maoists were working" in collaboration" in Bengal, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury said.

"All this clearly points out that there is political patronage, otherwise these kind of things cannot possibly happen.

Trains delayed and cancelled, but Railway informs very late. trains STRANDED, No bail out. only today, I stood and waited for Airport Princepghat Down local half an hour past the scheduled time. It happens often that for hours,we NEVER know whether the sceduled train is cancelled. We face the problem so often. Any procession, Immersion may stop any train, BUT a RAJDHANI Express may not be stopped. If Stopped , it might be a MAOIST Action and the Government of India should engage itself in Security Drill. What follows next to the Rajdhani Express, no mention of PCPA or Maoists!

Only the Rajdhani express People seem to pay the fare and we bear not anything for Indian Railway and travel without Tickets! Is it ? Do we the Ordinary commuters not pay any TAX?

have your Heart beating as it would stop no where and India is shining we are Nuclear super Power aligned with Warmonger Corporate Imperialism and ZIONISM. MDC holds on the FREE market Democracy and we the majority wretched , enslaved masses have no RIGHT at all!

The IMF said on Thursday the economies of India, China and Australia were recovering especially rapidly, suggesting it notices growing pressures for authorities there to tighten monetary policy ahead of others in the region.

Charging Trinamool Congress with patronising and protecting Maoists, the CPI(M) demanded a thorough probe into the holding up of the Rajdhani Express in West Bengal and asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to explain the role of central ministers in this regard.
Alleging that Trinamool leader and Union Minister of State Sisir Adhikari had "boasted to the media that he had prior knowledge that such an attack would take place," the party demanded that the Prime Minister "needs to probe the source of such 'knowledge' by his ministerial colleague and inform the nation."

Senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee's first reaction to the incident was that CPI(M) cadres had blocked the train "to malign her", a statement "typical of the usual hyperbole and absurdity".

"However, when the graffiti exposed the perpetrators of this outrage as belonging to the Maoists, she expressed her desire for a dialogue and even conveyed to those holding the train hostage to suggest a venue," he said in an editorial in party organ 'People's Democracy'.

Superintendent of Railway Police Saugata Sen said today the complaint was lodged by Government Railway Police (GRP) at Jhargram in the district last night.

The complaint was against "unknown persons" and did not name anyone, he said.

Armed members of the People's Committee against Police Atrocities, believed to be around 400 in number, ordered the two drivers of the train to alight and not to take it forward after they brought it to halt placing a tree branch on the tracks at Banstala, 10 km from Jhargram station.

The activists had also taken away the drivers which held up the train for seven-and-a-half hours, while the pantry car and passengers luggage were reportedly looted.

The drivers were accused by the agitators of running the train when an indefinite bandh against "atrocities" by the joint forces during the anti-Maoist operations in troubled Lalgarh.

The train left after the joint forces arrived at the spot late in the evening after the agitators withdrew.

The bandh which began yesterday was continuing with PCPA members torching a car at Kushabani forest for defying the shutdown, police said.

In Kolkata, Chief Secretary Asok Mohan Chakraborty held a high-level meeting.

Meanwhile the state government said it would take up with the Railways the issue of providing security to certain trains passing through Kharagpur and Jamshedpur divisions.

Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said, "Daily 35 trains, including eight to ten long distance ones, pass through these areas. The situation demands armed escorts, pilot engines and sanitising of tracks be ensured for them."

Stating that such measures were in place in ultra-affected areas of Chhatisgarh, Assam and the Northeast, Sen said, "We are considering such measures in trains in our state. A 42-45 km stretch between Kharagpur and Chandil is the most vulnerable."

The Home Secretary, however, admitted the measures were resource-intensive.

Earlier, top brass of the Eastern and South Eastern Railway also held a meeting on strengthening security on the trains and tracks.

A day after detention of the Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express along with passengers by Maoist-backed tribals in West Bengal, Orissa government today identified at least seven rail routes "vulnerable" to the attack, official sources said.

The routes identified as "prone" to Maoist attack are located mostly in Koraput, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Jajpur, Keonjhar and Sundergarh districts.

"The routes were identified on the basis of past Maoist attacks," special secretary, Transport and Commerce Department, G C Ray told PTI adding special security measures were being made in the routes for safety of passengers.

The routes identified are: Rourkela-Bimalagah-Kiribur, Rourkela-Jariekela, Boinda-Jujumara, Tamka-Keonjhar, Rayagada-Koraput, Koraput-Gorapur and Rayagada-Jhimiripeta lines.

The district Superintendent of Police (SPs) have been directed to make adequate arrangement for passenger safety in consultation with the Railways, sources said.

Though 17 of the state's 30 districts were affected by the Maoist menace, many of them were not connected by train, they said, adding Rayagada-Koraput, Rourkela-Bimlagarh-Kiribur routes are highly vulnerable.

"Trains from Orissa will be provided with security up to Kharagpur on Howrah-Chennai line," said Railway SP R K Bal, adding the Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express today left the station here amid security after through check-up.

Sniffer dogs were pressed into duty before a green signal was given to the train this morning.

While both the state police and the railways sounded confident of security in the train, the passengers were free from fear.

"I am not sure whether we could reach Delhi safely," a woman passenger told reporters before boarding Rajdhani along with her two daughters.

An armed jawan was deployed in each bogie of the train besides Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, they said.

CPM treads cautious line on anti-Naxal ops, reports manoj C G in Indian Express! Please read what he writes:

New Delhi While West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has resolved to take on the Maoists with the backing of his party, there is a muted concern among sections of the CPM over the collateral damage the offensive may bring, especially at a time when the Left as a force is losing its grip in the state and Assembly elections are approaching.
Although the CPM is united in arguing that the Maoists must be dealt with firmly, the party is worried about the growing perception that the state is slipping into anarchy. The dilemma is also over whether to go hard at the Maoist sympathisers, especially the intellectuals and tribals, as this could spawn discontent that could cost the Left dearly. The party and its government, many leaders agree, are caught between the devil and deep sea.

The CPM is under tremendous pressure from its cadres on the ground who are being attacked by the Maoists on a regular basis. “They want the government to go hard at the Maoists and their demand is in a way legitimate. But the state government will have to be extra careful. The Maoists and the Trinamool workers will pounce upon us if innocent people are in any way targeted,” a senior CPM leader said.

“The action against Maoists has to be very effective. But in the name of action, if we fall into the trap of the Maoists and hurt people who are innocent, that will be unfortunate,” CPM central committee member Nilotpal Basu said. Sources said the party has advised the Bhattacharjee government to tread cautiously.

The CPM has also fast-tracked its efforts to “isolate” the Maoists politically, sources said. The idea is to wage a political campaign discrediting the Maoists as “murderers” and “extortionists” and rob them of their “ideological pretensions”. Efforts are also on to woo the tribals, among whom the Maoists have a significant base. The CPM’s youth wing DYFI has already begun efforts in this direction.

“In Tripura, we have a formation called the Tribal Youth Federation. We are planning to replicate the model in Bengal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh,” DYFI national president P Sriramakrishnan said. The DYFI recently held a National Tribal Youth Convention in Ranchi where it finalised a blueprint for action.
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/CPM-treads-cautious-line-on-antiNaxal-ops/534720/

"In a few special cases...the recovery is advancing so rapidly that output gaps are already starting to close and pressures are already emerging," the International Monetary Fund said in a regional economic outlook report, released in Seoul.

It called the three economies special cases, while adding a tightening of monetary policy seemed unnecessary elsewhere in the region in the near future.

The comments add to growing expectations among global traders that some major emerging economies would start to raise interest rates and remove stimulus measures far ahead of advanced economies.

Australia's central bank already raised its interest rate this month, becoming the first major economy to tighten monetary policy since the financial crisis started.

The Indian central bank on Tuesday laid the groundwork for a rise in interest rates by tightening credit to the commercial property sector, lifting its inflation forecast and warning of the threat of asset price bubbles.

The IMF upgraded economic growth forecasts for Singapore for 2009 and 2010 from its previous projections announced on Oct. 1, but did not elaborate.

The IMF said the recovery in the region was tentative and that the pick-up in economic activity had so far been supported by factors that were either temporary or could turn out to be so.

"The risks of inflation at present are low. In most countries, large output gaps are likely to persist for some time and are even expected to widen next year in many cases, as growth is projected to remain below potential," it added.
It also advised Asian central banks not to raise interest rates only to calm asset price growth, saying lifting rates ahead of advanced economies could attract "carry trade-type" capital inflows and aggravate asset price pressures.

"For all these reasons, it would seem preferable, at least initially, to address incipient asset price pressures through targeted prudential measures rather than the blunt instrument of monetary policy," it said.

The Washington-based organisation did not specify economies facing particularly serious asset price pressures.

have your heart and mind INTACT as the Supreme Commander of the GALAXY empire, Barck Obama signed legislation Wednesday that extends existing hate crimes laws to attacks motivated by gender, sexual orientation or disabilities.

The legislation, which had stalled in Congress for years, marks the first major victory for the gay rights community since Obama came into office in January. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr Hate Crimes bill was approved by US lawmakers earlier this month.

Shepard was a gay college student who was brutally killed in 1998 in Wyoming. Byrd was an African-American man chained and dragged to death that same year on the back of a pickup truck by three white men in Texas.

"After more than a decade of opposition and delay, we've passed inclusive hate crimes legislation to help protect our citizens from violence based on what they look like, who they love, how they pray, or who they are," Obama said.

Members of Shepard and Byrd's family were at the White House signing ceremony and Obama planned a separate reception later Wednesday.

The law allows prosecutors to tack on additional punishment for crimes they believe are motivated by hatred of a certain group. Hate crime laws already exist for race, colour, religion or national origin.

The bill was approved as part of the defence department's annual budget for the fiscal year 2010.

Meanwhile, a team of Indian investigators will travel to the United States next week to question David Coleman Headley, arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for plotting terror-attacks overseas, including India.

The team comprising officials of the Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing will travel to the US to question Headley next week, official sources said on Thursday.

They said the US has already shared with India some information gathered during the investigation of the case and interrogation of Headley. The US has also sought cooperation of India to further collaborate the information provided to them by the American national, who was arrested early this month by FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force at the O'Hare International Airport in Chicago before boarding a flight to Philadelphia, intending to travel to Pakistan.

The team will also try to get information about Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Hussain Rana, 48, also known as Tahawar Rana, who was arrested along with Headley, the sources said.

According to the FBI affidavit filed in a Chicago court, Headley was in close contact with Ilyas Kashmir and several unidentified leaders of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba. Kashmiri is the operational chief of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir section of Harakat-ul Jihad Islami , a Pakistani-based terrorist organisation having links with the Al Qaeda.

Chidambaram Flays CPI-M for Linking Mamata to Hijack

Home Minister P Chidambaram today hit out at CPI(M) for seeking to link Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee to Rajdhani Express hijack and talked tough on Maoist violence, saying no democracy can accept "violence as an instrument of change".

"CPI(M) seems to know more about what is happening in Trinamool Congress than what is happening in West Bengal. I think these are baseless charges," Chidambaram told reporters when referred to CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat's charge that Banerjee was linked to the hijacking.

"Just because CPI(M) and Trinamool are opposed in West Bengal, responsible political leaders should not hurl charges against other equally responsible leader," he said, adding, "I am not at all happy that such charges should be levelled against a political leader."

Karat had yesterday suggested that People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA), which detained the train carrying about 1,200 passengers, had political patronage of Mamata Banerjee, the Railway Minister.

Chidambaram said there was no intelligence input to suggest that the train would be detained in West Bengal on Tuesday and a probe is being conducted to ascertain who was behind the act.

He said if anyone in the government knew that Rajdhani Express would be detained, it would have made an attempt to nip it in the bud.

On the government's approach to deal with naxalism, the Home Minister said, "I have already stated our position. We do not accept violence and our security forces will act against anybody or group which engages in violence."

"The only thing I have been saying is abjure violence, we are willing to talk," he said.

"As long as they don't abjure violence, is it not the duty of the state -- central government and state government -- to take action against those indulging in violence?... Violence is unacceptable, violence must stop," he emphasised.

Describing the Rajdhani Express episode as a wake-up call, Chidambaram said violence hitherto used to take place in remote places but when it happened with Rajdhani train, people woke up.

"Today, violence is against a police officer, it can be against 1,200 passengers in a train....I have been giving this wake-up call for several months," he said.

Disagreeing with the contention by some quarters that the government was at "war" with the naxals, he said this word is used only by CPI(M) and the media. "No civilised society will go to war against its own people but people will have to stop violence."

On Karat's contention that the centre was not ready for a joint operation against the Maoists in West Bengal, Chidambaram said the CPI(M) leader "should talk to his Chief Minister, he will tell him the actual situation."

The Home Minister said "maximum forces" have been given to West Bengal for three districts where militants are operating.

"The Chief Minister is fully aware of all the action that has been taken. I have briefed the Chief Minister personally," he said.

While talking about the ways to deal with naxalism, Chidambaram referred to an effort by Digvijay Singh as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh while dealing with a violent group in Balaghat.

Singh had proposed to reduce police presence if there was no violence for three months.

Chidambaram, however, said it did not mean that that particular example would work everywhere.

Trinamool Rubbishes CPI(M)'s Demand for Probe

The Trinamool Congress today rubbished CPI(M)'s demand for an enquiry into the role of Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee during the seizure of the Rajdhani Express by Maoists on October 27.

"CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury has cast aspersions on the Railway Minister's integrity though her utmost priority was to save the lives of the passengers and she could not afford to take any extreme step at that moment of crisis," TC leader Partha Chatterjee told PTI.

"It is madness on the part of CPI(M) leaders to demand a probe against her role during the crisis," he said.

"Trinamool Congress has no connection with Maoists. Time and again Mamata Banerjee has said that she was against killing of individuals, violence and use of arms. She believes in non-violence."

Chatterjee pointed out that she had adopted the Gandhian method of going on fast in the past for the cause of the farmers of Singur for 25 days.

He said that the CPI(M) instead should ask for a probe into the alleged illegal stock-piling of arms by its cadres for use against opposition parties in the state.

The people, he said, should know why the ruling party was in dilemma to ban the Maoists in West Bengal when several other state governments had done so.

Maoist Problem to be Dealt in a Holistic Way: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today parried a question on West Bengal government swapping arrested tribals for release of a policeman abducted by Maoists.

"Well, it would not be proper for me to comment on any state government. I refuse to enter into any argument with anybody on that," he said when asked to comment on West Bengal government negotiating with the Naxals.

On Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee's reported remarks that there were no Maoists in the country, Singh said he had not seen the statement of his cabinet colleague.

"I have not seen this statement of the Railway Minister. Obviously, the Maoist threat is a reality and the Government of India is duty bound to deal with it in an effective manner," he said.

Asked about CPI(M) allegations about Banerjee "colluding with Maoists" and a letter the Left party had written to him, Singh said that he had read it in the newspapers.

"I have not seen the letter the CPM people have written to me. When I go back, I will look into the letter and its contents," he said.

The Prime Minister said the Maoist problem has to be dealt with "in a holistic way" through a two-pronged approach of enforcing law and order and carrying out development simultaneously.

Cong Accuses Maoists of Being Anti-People

In the backdrop of holding up of Rajdhani Express in West Bengal, Congress today accused the Maoists of being anti-people, anti-poor and anti-development who are indulging in mindless violence.

"They are anti-people, anti-poor and anti-development. Their policy of blocking development, roads and electricity cannot be called pro-common man," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.

Referring to the Congress plank of aam aadmi (common man) and the violence perpetrated by the Maoists, Singhvi said, "This is a tragic invocation of the common man. They swear in the name of common man and supposedly act on behalf of the common man but have indulged in mindless violence since 1996."

He said since 1996 alone, they have killed 6,000 people and were indulging in unthinkable madness.

Accusing the Maoists of unleashing a "reign of terror", Singhvi said if they have the guts, they should join the mainstream and start a dialogue process.

He said every state government has policies and programmes and each of the grievances of the Maoists can be looked into.

While condemning the violence, the spokesman called upon the Maoists to join the mainstream, saying there was no such thing as "desirable violence".

Singhvi dubbed CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat's allegation of involvement of a Union Minister in Maoist violence as "baseless, mindless and ridiculous".

"This is baseless, mindless and ridiculous...Such allegations cannot be dignified with a reply. No attempt has been made to provide an iota of evidence."

The spokesman advised leaders of political parties to exercise a sense of responsibility so that the national focus on Maoists is not diluted. "Such things cannot be taken lightly."

Asked who was responsible for the train incident as law and order was a state subject, Singhvi said if an issue of law and order is involved, it is a state matter. He, however, hastened to add that the Home Ministry is always ready to provide every possible help.

To a question if the party favoured joint Centre-State offensive against the Maoists, Singhvi replied in the affirmative saying, "Violence of this kind is a national threat. It cannot be tolerated."

He said the Centre had men, material and equipment to deal with the situation.

On his party's ally Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's demand for invocation of Article 355 and 356 in West Bengal and the use of army against the Maoists, Singhvi said it was a "matter of constitutional procedure".

"It is out of place for me or anybody to comment on it," he said, indicating that the constitutional procedures would have a precedence over the demands of an individual.

To a query on Banerjee allegedly taking the support of Maoist organisations for the protest in Singur and Nandigram, Singhvi shot back, "How can you link the two? (Nandigram-Singur and train hijack.) While Singur and Nandigram was a genuine issue, it cannot be linked with the train incident."

When pointed out that successive Congress governments in states have not followed land reform programmes leading to growth of Maoist organisations, Singhvi said that since 1950, several Congress state governments have initiated a series of such programmes.

He said there could be some scope for improvement and land reform programmes can be done in a democratic set up in a democratic manner.

CPI(M) Accuses TC of Giving Political Patronage to Naxals

The CPI(M) today hit out at the Trinamool Congress (TC) blaming it for seeking the stoppage of anti-Maoist operations in West Bengal and providing "political patronage" to extremists.

Demanding that the Prime Minister should explain how union ministers of Trinamool Congress were opposing the decision of the Centre on sending forces to fight Maoists, the party also alleged that attacks on railway property had risen since Mamata Banerjee took over the Railway Ministry.

Reacting to the Rajdhani Express episode in West Bengal yesterday, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said it was well known that Trinamool Congress and its leadership had "opposed police operations in Lalgarh. In fact they asked for the recall of central paramilitary forces."

Asked about Banerjee's comment that the incident was aimed at maligning the railways, he said the Trinamool was "in collusion with these disruptive forces, and therefore their accusations will carry no credibility."

Karat told reporters that since March, 65 CPI(M) cadres and supporters "have been killed for opposing Maoists politically. Otherwise why should they kill us? They are not killing other party people."

He said "the front (People's Committee against Police Atrocities), which the Maoists are utilising, and who are active in the Lalgarh area, are the same forces which have stopped this train."

Urging the Prime Minister to explain how central ministers were demanding ending anti-Maoist operations in West Bengal, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said Trinamool Congress was focussing on the 2011 West Bengal assembly polls.

"Clearly, they are taking Maoist help. That is the politics amidst which all this is being allowed to be done," he said, adding that the Railway Minister has herself indicated that she is prepared to negotiate.

"Negotiate what? Negotiate the release of a person who was earlier a Trinamool leader and has now joined Maoists," Yechury asked, alleging that since Banerjee took over as the Railway Minister, "attacks on railway property by Maoists have grown very sharply."

Indicating a plan, he said the Rajdhani being a fast-moving train cannot be stopped the way it was done yesterday. "Here you have it stopping very peacefully, then you have this attack which is conducted with all the graffiti asking for the release of Chhatradhar Mahato (PCPA chief) who everybody knows was a Trinamool leader earlier."

It was known that Trinamool and Maoists were working "in collaboration" in Bengal. "It is also known that central ministers have been arguing for the withdrawal of central forces from Bengal in the anti-Maoist operation."

"All this clearly points out that there is political patronage, otherwise these things cannot possibly happen. You are in political collaboration with a certain force whom you are protecting, that is the political patronage being given to Maoists," Yechury said.

Opinion
War Cries Won't Win This War
A state perceived by the community as caring for the people has greater chances of prevailing over the Maoists than one seen as indifferent to the people's problems.
B. Raman

Since 9/11, one talks of old and new terrorism and modern and post-modern terrorism. The reference is to the modus operandi (MO) and tactics used by the terrorists and their ability to use modern scientific and technological innovations for planning and committing acts of terrorism. Their use of modern innovations increases the lethality of their acts of terrorism, but, at the same time, increases their vulnerability to neutralisation by the security agencies. One saw in Mumbai in November, 2008, how the terrorists' use of modern means of communications facilitated not only their acts of terrorism, but also the investigation by the police.

After 9/11, the Neo Taliban of Afghanistan, headed by Mulla Mohammad Omar, has emerged as a modern insurgent force capable of planning and launching conventional-style attacks as well as sophisticated, complex, multi-target and multi-MO attacks involving the use of modern means of communications and weaponry. This should account for its successes against the NATO forces and the Afghan National Army (ANA) in certain areas and its vulnerability to neutralisation by the NATO forces in other areas due to the interception of its communications.

As compared to the Neo Taliban, the Maoist insurgents of the tribal belt in Central India are an old-style insurgent force still using tactics and MO such as ambushes, attacks with landmines and conventional weapons etc of the kind used by the communist insurgents of Malaya in the 1940s and of Myanmar and Thailand in subsequent years. Their strong points are not their weaponry, but the support from large sections of the tribal community in whose midst and on whose behalf they operate, their superior knowledge of the terrain and their non-dependence on modern means of communications.

The support of the community and their non-dependence on modern means of communications should explain the difficulties faced by the intelligence agencies in collecting human and technical intelligence about them. Their superior knowledge of the terrain gives them an advantage over the security forces. Clandestine, undetected movement through the terrain comes easily to them, but not to the security forces heavily dependent on modern means of transport for their movement.

The objective of any counter-insurgency strategy against the Maoists should be not to defeat them, but to deny them successes through better tactics and better MO by the security forces. This would be possible only with the support of the tribal community. Winning over the tribals through better governance, better development and better redressal of their grievances against the state has to be the core component of this strategy. Disproportionate use of force against the Maoists and the tribals supporting them would drive more tribals into the arms of the insurgent leaders.

Better tactics and better MO by the security forces would mean better capability for the detection and neutralisation of landmines, better skills in ambushing insurgent groups on the move and a capability for rapid intervention. The facts that there have been more instances of successful ambushes by the insurgents of the security forces than of the insurgents by the security forces, that deaths of members of the security forces due to landmines continue to be high and that a group of insurgents managed to stop the Rajdhani Express from Bhubaneshwar to New Delhi for over five hours on October 27, 2009, without any counter-action by the rapid intervention forces speak of major deficiencies in our counter-insurgency capability.

The incident of October 27 underlines the need for a specially-trained and equipped special intervention force capable of operating rapidly and stealthily in the rural areas. The National Security Guards (NSGs), who were used to counter the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai, are specially trained and equipped to intervene in terrorism-related situations in the urban areas. A similar force for rapid intervention against the Maoists in the rural areas is necessary.

Since the Maoist insurgency has spread over a wide geographic area coming under the jurisdiction of the police forces of a number of states, the command and control of the counter-insurgency operations becomes more difficult than in the case of terrorism. Should there be a centralised operational command and control or should the command and control remain the responsibility of the police forces of the affected States, with the role of the Government of India confined to co-ordination, guidance, capacity-building in the affected States and facilitation of the counter-insurgency operations? How to ensure better co-ordination among affected States and joint action where necessary? Should there be a joint action command? If so, how shoud it be constituted? These are questions which need attention.

Andhra Pradesh has had success stories in dealing with Naxalite/Maoist insurgency--through better intelligence, better terrain awareness, better physical security, better tactics and targetted attacks on key leaders. Its example should be of value to other states.

Non-state actors--whether terrorists or insurgents--cannot be defeated like one defeats a state adversary except in exceptional cases such as the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by the Sri Lankan security forces. The LTTE, under Prabakaran, conducted itself like a state and paid a heavy price for it. Non-state actors can be made only to wither away through a sustained campaign of attrition with the support of the community. The campaign will be long and has to be sustained. One should not expect quick results.

Hard rhetoric and war cries have no place in counter-insurgency. A state, which is perceived by the community as caring for the people, has greater chances of prevailing over the insurgents than a state, which is seen as indifferent to the problems of the people.

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B. Raman is Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, New Delhi, and, presently, Director, Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai.
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