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'Polls made PM backtrack on using IAF to fight Naxals'

October 12, 2009 22:07 IST

Maoist leader Kishenji on Monday claimed that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was backtracking from his earlier plan to engage air force and army against the Naxals on the excuse of assembly elections and negative vibes from intellectuals.

"Just a few days ago, the prime minister had said the government would use the air force and army to crack down on the Maoists, but now he is saying so because of the Maharashtra election they will not be used," Kishenji said in a phone call from an undisclosed location.

Reacting to West Bengal chief minister's comment that Kishenji is a liar and a murderer, the underground leader said, "Does Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has the moral and ethical

right to call someone a liar and murderer after the Nandigram and Lalgarh episodes? The whole world has come to know that he and his bureaucrats are liars," he said.

When reminded that the chief minister had denied talks with the Maoists so long as they don't surrender their arms, Kishenji said, "We are not dying for talks. We are ready for talks because we are concerned for the common people".

"If the state government thinks that they are going to make us sit at the table at the point of gun, they are wrong. We know how to defend ourselves," Kishenji said.
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