'Maoists helping destroy the communist movement'

"The Maoists are indulging in individual annihilation and gave the pretext to the government to send paramilitary forces and commandos to Lalgarh. They are not helping the communist movement and in effect helping destroy it," central secretary of CPI (ML) K N Ramachandran told mediapersons in Kolkata.

He said the degeneration of the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the "anarchist" path of the Maoists had become obstacles in the path of building a powerful communist party uniting all "genuine" communist forces.

Hailing the people's movement at Lalgarh, he said it was not an isolated case. Many mass movements were going on in Orissa and Chhatisgarh.

"Lalgarh is not the end of the road, but only a beginning. More fierce movements than Lalgarh are going to take place in many parts of the country," he warned.

Ramachandran demanded immediate withdrawal of the paramilitary forces from Lalgarh and lifting of the ban on the Maoists.

"It is a political problem and putting a ban on the Maoists will not solve it," he said.