Buddha: is Maoism not terrorism?

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Buddha:Is Maoism not sheer terrorism?
Posted: Dec 15, 2008 at 0345 hrs IST

Kolkata With the state facing a surge in Naxal attacks, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee labeled Maoists as nothing less than “terrorists”.
Bhattacharjee was addressing teachers at the annual state conference of All Bengal Teachers’ Association (ABTA) — affiliated to the CPM — at Sonarpur in South 24 Paraganas on Sunday.

“Terrorism has reared its head all over the country. Even in our state a bomb blast had taken place in Salboni. Doctors have been killed. What is happening in the name of Maoism? Is this not sheer terrorism? I wonder what would have Mao said had he been alive?” he said. He also exhorted the teaching community to take care of those sections of the society which are lagging behind in every respect.

“I cannot tell you that you do not take private tuitions. But shouldn’t you think of the backward people who need your help to move ahead?” the chief minister asked. Bhattacharjee further said the importance of Bengali-medium schools has not waned. “I don’t subscribe to the opinion that English can be learnt only in English-medium schools. It can be learnt in Bengali-medium schools too,” he said.

The chief minister also stressed on the importance of vocational education. “Many students do not opt for higher education after finishing school. Vocational training should be provided to them so that they can eke out a living in the future,” he added.