Sept. 26: A Maoist leader today said that if chief minister Mamata Banerjee cracked down on the rebels in Jungle Mahal, the CPI (Maoist) would treat the new government like the previous Left regime.

“We are already at an advantageous position in our strongholds, where we enjoy the support of poor people. Mamata Banerjee has already lost her credibility as she failed to keep her promises — withdrawal of the joint forces and release of political prisoners. Besides, her victory in seven seats (in the Assembly polls) in our strongholds in Jungle Mahal was a gift to her from us. If she and her party workers want to betray us, the poor people of Jungle Mahal will not spare them,” a state committee member of the rebel outfit said.

The Maoist leader also referred to the murder of Jharkhand Janamukti Morcha president Rabindranath Bose, following which Mamata had hit out at “the Jungle Mahal mafia” and its sympathisers.

The rebel leader said the decision to kill Bose was taken by the organisation’s higher leadership several years ago. “He was involved in a number of activities against our organisation. Recently, he was trying to join hands with Trinamul for helping them corner us in Jungle Mahal,” the rebel leader claimed.

In Singur, Mamata today accused the CPM of being hand in glove with the Maoists to target her party leaders.

“The CPM has joined hands with the Maoists to kill our party leaders. They have provided arms to the Maoists. My message is loud and clear, murders won’t scare the Trinamul Congress. Hisheb nikesh pie to pie dite hobe (You will have to pay for this),” Mamata said.

“Comrades, harmads and Maoists, you have killed three people. More will be born. Thieves and cowards ambush to kill. If you have the courage, come for a battle. Ideological battles can be waged.… People of Jungle Mahal will give a befitting reply to them. No one can stop my plans for development in Jungle Mahal. Schools, colleges and bridges will be built,” she added.

The state cabinet today cleared a proposal to recruit more hands for child development centres in Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore — all Maoist-affected districts.

The chief minister tore into Maoist sympathisers. “You talk about protecting human rights. You are quick to ask why Maoists have been arrested and put behind bars. When brutal murders take place, what kind of human rights are protected? Who gave them the right to kill? Remember we are the first state to have set up the human rights court,” Mamata said.

The chief minister said she had received reports of Maoists coming to Singur in the guise of NGOs.

“I know they are coming here. Meetings are being held in the night and photographed. These images are sent abroad via mail, Twitter, Facebook to show what kind of movement they are doing and to get funds. The money is being spent on buying arms and training youths,” she said.

Leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra accused the chief minister of “double standards”.

“I am of the opinion that the chief minister is maintaining double standards by using her strongest language against Maoists in Jungle Mahal. But why is she silent on the murder of 253 CPM leaders and activists by Maoists since 2009? What action has she so far taken against Maoists, whom she has accused of loitering around her Kalighat home to kill her?” Mishra said in Calcutta.

Referring to Mamata’s criticism of those backing Maoists from Calcutta, Mishra said: “Here is the chief minister’s duplicity. When we used to speak against Maoist sympathisers in Calcutta during the Left Front regime, she used to protest our stand. But now she is criticising them.”