Kolkata: After raising hue and cry in the Parliament over Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee's speech in Lalgarh, West Bengal's ruling Left Front government on Saturday found itself in an embarrassing situation when one of its own ministers questioned the circumstances under which Maoist leader Azad was killed by Andhra Pradesh Police.
West Bengal PWD Minister Kshiti Goswami had on Friday raised questions over the way Maoist leader Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad was killed in an encounter and alleged foul play by the police. He has asked for a thorough investigation into the leader's death.
"The allegation is that Azad was called for talks and killed. We are also raising questions. But we are being assured that it (the incident) will be probed and truth will come out, "said Goswami, who belongs to one of the Left Front constituents – the RSP – on Friday.
His comments could upset the Left's entire strategy to question the government's seriousness in dealing with the Maoists by highlighting the contradictory statements made by its minister.
Mamata's remarks at a rally in Lalgarh on August 9 about Azad's killing in Andhra Pradesh had set off a furore in Parliament where she had come under fire from BJP and Left parties. In a speech in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, she, however, stuck to her remarks about Azad's killing.
(With PTI inputs)
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