New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS) The surge in political killings in West Bengal saw the Trinamool Congress and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Left parties squabble with each other both inside and outside parliament Friday. They also complained to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with “proof” of the other’s role in the violence.
Trinamool Congress leader and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, who led her party MPs to meet Manmohan Singh said the prime minister has assured them that he would seek details from Home Minister P. Chidambaram on the surge in violence in the Marxist-ruled state.

Meanwhile, sources said Banerjee expressed her displeasure over Chidambaram’s statement in parliament that the fact-finding central team sent to West Bengal would assist the state government.

Reiterating her party’s demand for deployment of the army in the Maoist-affected districts of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura, Banerjee said the demand was being made to recover the arms being used by rebels and the Marxists and “to restore law and order”.

The Trinamool chief said her party was not asking for invocation of Article 356 - President’s Rule - to win elections in the state.

“The state government must act as per the constitution and protect the minorities, women and weaker sections,” she told reporters.

“We told the PM that we don’t want any undue advantage,” Banerjee said, adding that the prime minister had expressed concern over the developments in West Bengal.

CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury led a delegation of Left party MPs to meet the prime minister to point out the “evidence” of the link between the Trinamool Congress and Maoists in the state. Yechury said Manmohan Singh has expressed deep concern over the political developments in the state.

He said the prime minister has assured the Left leaders that the evidence produced by them would be handed over to the home ministry to conduct a thorough investigation.

In the Lok Sabha, CPI-M leader Basudeb Acharia came down heavily on Minister of State for Tourism Sultan Ahmed of the Trinamool Congress for staying in a five-star hotel for six months.

“Who will pay the bill of Rs.37 lakh?” Acharia asked without naming Ahmed. The CPI-M leader said he was raising the matter as it concerned tax payer’s money. Acharia is usually targetted by Trinamool Congress MPs whenever he makes a speech.