Naxalite factions slam FB leadership

SILIGURI, March 31: Several Naxalite factions today flayed the Forward Bloc’s decision to seek alliance with the CPI-M before the panchayat polls alone and retrace back to the Left Front fold. The Naxalite leaders termed the FB leadership’s decision as ‘shameful’ and predicted mass disagreement within the rank and file of the party especially in its Cooch Behar unit.
Mr Abhijit Majumder, the leader of the CPI-ML (Liberation) said that the decision was unfortunate. “We had hoped to form an alternative Left Alliance comprising the disgruntled Left allies like the Forward Bloc apart from several Naxalite factions. The barbaric Dinhata police firing on 5 February had strengthened our hope that the Forward Bloc would quit the Left Front. Our hope has been belied as the party leadership surrendered to its political compulsions. The decision would create resentment in the FB rank and file,” he said.
Mr Sridhar Mukherjee, the leader of the CPI-ML (New Democracy) also slammed the FB leadership’s decision to remain part of the ruling alliance. “Attachment to power dies hard. It is proved again. The party has got accustomed to collecting huge funds using important portfolios like the food ministry,” he alleged.
In a similar vein, Mr Nathuram Biswas of the CPI-ML (Jana Shakti) and Mr Indranil Bhattacharya of the CPI-ML (Provisional Central Committee) criticised the FB’s decision and predicted that FB supporters in Cooch Behar would revolt soon against the leadership's buckling under pressure.