Kolkata,
18th December, 2013
The
Trinamool Congress Government has been running the State Government in West
Bengal since May 2011. At the very outset, the Chief Minister’s strange
instruction to the main opposition parties was to paste leucoplast on the mouth
to keep mum for the next 10 years. However, during the months followed, what
has been aptly revealed is that the
undemocratic highhandedness of the present ruling regime is not targeted
only to the political Opposition, but also directed to other sections of the
society in the state. None is spared-- from talented girl students of
Presidency University to innocent farmers of Junglemahal, not even school
teachers, or college/ university professors, even celebrated artists who
once took pro-‘Paribortan’ stand –-- are
experiencing the same humiliation in one or another pretext. ‘If you are not
with me you are against me’ – the ruling party in West Bengal seems to say.
The
State of West Bengal is now a land of government-sponsored carnivals. But such
jamborees are failing to suppress the sound of weeping of hungry workers of
closed North Bengal tea gardens, increasing problems of hard-pressed transport
workers or distress of hapless families
of the farmers committing suicide. When asked about the
priority of the TMC government the blunt
response from the top is typically insensitive : ‘If we won’t organise
festivals should we perform funeral rites”.
The
state is now leading the country as per the record of crime against women. The
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data
reveals that the state also tops
the list of increasing rate of criminal cases in the whole country. Even the
judge of the High Court has said that the state is burning. The Government is
not paying any heed to the recommendations of statutory bodies like the State
Election Commission or the State Human Rights Commission.
Anarchy
in Education
What
is happening in the field of education in West Bengal is nothing but an
‘improvised’ version of the semi-fascist terror tactics of the days during the
1970’s. The unfortunate practice of mass-copying in public examinations has
once relapsed. The State Government has already
imposed an ordinance was to
dismantle the positive developments achieved in higher education during the
days of the Left Front government. Now even the Vice- Chancellors in a number
of State Universities were either
removed or forced to resign by the TMC government in their own autocratic
fashion. The pre-poll cry for de-politicization in education has turned truly
into de-democratization drive. The experience of the one-year of the TMC-led
Government has shown that the entire education system is under tremendous
threat. On the one hand we have TMC miscreants in the campus beating up college
professors and principals and student activists of opposition organizations, on
the other hand we have the entire Government machinery acting in unison the
destroy the democratic education system in the state. In the name of
establishing democracy and doing away with party-rule, what the Mamata Banerjee
Government has done is to try and capture the education sector by brazen
nepotism and hooliganism at any cost.
The
democratically elected administrative bodies of the Universities have been
dismissed by the ordinance. Even the neutrality of the Government-nominated
expert committee members in the fields of higher education has been contested
by different stake holders. The TMC activists took part in poll campaigns have
been picked up as ‘experts’. The elected Chairmen of District Primary Education
Councils were compelled to resign to give way for the known TMC dadas. Known
pro-TMC faces are posted to run bodies like West Bengal Council for Primary
Education, West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, West Bengal Council of
Higher Secondary Education and School Service Commission. The ruling
party-sponsored musclemen are nominated by the state government to head the
College Governing Bodies.
Educational
institutions are prime targets of TMC-sponsored hooligans. Professors,
teachers, students, non-teaching members of the staff are openly manhandled.
The student organization of the present ruling party is desperate to put
pressure on the teachers in schools and colleges to ensure promotion of
students unable to qualify in the final examinations. A state of total misrule
is prevailing. The CM announced that approval will be given to ten thousand new
madrasahs. But in reality the Government has cancelled license of 40 running
madrasahs. The scope in technical and vocational education has also shrunk. The Government has cancelled
license of more than 40 vocational training institutes.
Security
of women disappearing
The
gang rape and killing of a college student in Kamduni village, barely 20
kilometres from Kolkata, is already known across the country. But instead of
taking any substantive step against the
culprits, the State Government is bent upon harassing the protesters. Even the ministers are hurling on
filthy languages against the innocent villagers who are ready to bow down to
the pressures from the ruling party leaders. In the Park Street rape case, in
which Chief Minister had infamously declared the accusation to be “concocted”,
the main accused is still at large, more than a year-and-a-half after the
crime. The victim is yet to get any
justice, but the lady police
officer concerned in charge of investigation initially had to leave office soon
after receiving a “routine” transfer order. The raped woman of Katwa had to
give evidence that her husband had passed away 11 years ago.
A
TMC MLA, himself a silver screen star passed ugly remarks about a girl molested in Barasat, the district
headquarters in South 24 Parganas. The police officers in Jhargram asked about
the character of the lady who wanted to lodge a complaint of molestation. In
Kanaidighi village of Kanthi, Purba Medinipur district, a woman attempted suicide
by consuming poison after she molested in front of her daughter. But no step
was taken to in her favour. A national champion deaf and dumb athlete was raped
in Hemtabad, in North Dinajpur district. The main accused here also is a TMC
activist.
The
leaders of Left women organizations in the state sought appointment of Home
Secretary of the state government and the DG of the State Police force four
times. But they are not finding any time to meet the women organizations. The
state administration though led by the woman CM is reluctant to receive any
deputation even to discuss issues related to incidents of gang rape.
The
state administration is absolutely incompetent. In terms of population, the
state of West Bengal accounts for 7.5%
of India’s population. But the 12.7% of total incidents of atrocities against
women took place in West Bengal. The
data reveals that the police do not receive complaint or fail to file
chargesheets in most of the cases. Recently, it is found that in 50 such cases,
the police has deliberately conducted
wrong investigations to ensure dismissal of the cases in courts. The latest
NCRB record reveals that the number of cases of atrocities against women in
West Bengal is more than any other state in the country. The Government is not even sending proper reports of such cases, though
the rate of punishment is much low in comparison with other states. But to the West Bengal CM, the real cases of
atrocities against women are ‘fake’ or ‘cooked up’ stories! The Ministers of
the State Government are also continuing to pass filthy remarks targeting the victims. This
only is emboldening the criminals and anti-social elements.
Don’t
ask questions …
Shiladitya
Chowdhury, a farmer from Belpahari, Paschim Medinipur district, was arrested
for asking a simple question about the rising price of fertilizers in a meeting
of the Chief Minister. Readily, the angry boss of the state administration
identified Shiladitya as a ‘Maoist’ and ordered the police force from
the stage to arrest the poor fellow. Ms. Tania Bharadwaj, a teen age student,
was also termed as a ‘Maoist’ by the Chief Minister in a TV talk show. Prof. Ambikesh
Mahapatra of Jadavpur University, was held by the police only for forwarding an e-mail in good humour.
The
terror is so evident
Jiten
Nandi, member of Garbeta Zonal Committee of CPI (M) was brutally murdered
within 24 hours after the declaration of the results of the last Assembly election.
In only eight days, during the period between declaration of election results
and the swearing-in ceremony of the new cabinet
(13th – 20th May, 2011), eight CPI (M) workers were brutally killed by
the TMC hoodlums. The CM told in the brigade rally that one would need to use a
binocular to find out incidents of violence. But. Pradip Tah, former CPI (M) MLA and Kamal
Gayen, veteran cultural activist were brutally mudered in Bardhaman in open day
light by the armed goons of the ruling party. The persons accused in the murder
case are now out of jail. Credit goes to the police! Dilip Sarkar, veteran CPI
(M) leader and former MLA, was killed by TMC-sponsored goons in Barnpur before
the Panchayat polls. But no one is arrested. In the vast areas of the state the
opposition parties are not allowed to hold public meetings or rallies. TMC-backed goons are extorting money from
common people. Unable to pay hefty amount claimed by the local TMC hooligans,
many people have committed suicide in fear of
facing the consequences. During the
last two and a half years 140 workers of the parties belonging to the
Left Front were murdered. Among them 52 persons belonged to the Minority
Communities, 9 of them belonged to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, and 3
of them are women. In total,7387 people were injured in the incidents of
attacks by the TMC hooligans. More than 100 women were molested to take
political revenge by the ruling party activists. During the period, a total of
700 women were raped. Around 2000 offices of different Left political parties/
mass organizations and trade unions were ransacked and captured. A total of
44937 Left Front activists were ousted from their residences. More than 8000
Left activists, leaders and supporters were implicated in false and fabricated
cases.
Cases
of Police firing, Lathi charges and false cases
The
trigger- happy state police even opened fire on unarmed people during
agitations, even on people assembled in social gatherings. Five people
including two women and a student of class five died in such cases. Six
such incidents happened during the period. But in no case the Chief Minister criticized such police action.
This is only legitimizing the police atrocities. Two women and a student of class five died
in police firing at Magrahat. The police
was given clean chit from the highest authority. The Chief Minister only
defended the police force after an innocent woman was killed in police
firing at Bogula in Nadia district.
Police opened fire on displaced poor tribal people in Gajitala and Dewanghri of
Haroa in South 24 Parganas. The police opened fire on farmers and patta holders
without any provocation. Four farmers were injured and bleeding but they were
not allowed to transfer to hospitals in time. The armed TMC hoodlums joined the
police in attacking the poor farmers.
One person was killed in Asansol, Bardhaman in police firing when they could
not control a scuffle during the immersion of idols.
Bahurupi
village of Bishoepur in Siuri witnessed police atrocity at its peak as they
kicked at the abdomen of a three year old girl child. The police manhandeled
women in Nasik village of Bhatar in Bardhaman. The men in uniform kicked at the
abdomen of a pregnant woman. The police opened fire and charged tear gas shells
indiscriminately on the villagers during
their operation to bring back a digging
machine of a private company at Loba village in Dubrajpur, Birbhum. The Chief
Minister appreciated the police action. The CM also openly defended the police
firing at Houlia of Tehatta in Nadia killing
an innocent person.
Student
leader dies in police custody
The
Left student and youth organizations called for civil disobedience to protest
the ban on students’ union elections in the state. Sudipta Gupta (23), leader
of the SFI, also participated in the protest programme. The police started
beating the agitators who were inside
the bus on their way to the Presidency Jail.
Sudipta was pushed out. He was grievously injured but was not spared by
the police. Sudipta suffered a serious head injury. In fact he was mercilessly beaten. His head and face were
fractured severely. Sudipta’s comrades rescued him and brought him to the SSKM
hospital. He was not even provided with proper treatment. Sudipta succumbed to
injuries. The Chief Minister termed the incident as a “petty matter”. The Left
Front demanded a judicial enquiry of the custodial death of Sudipto Gupta. But,
the TMC Government, as usual, is interested in nothing but hoodwinking the
people.
1500
Party offices vandalized within 24 hours by TMC goons
West
Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra was heckled on 9 April 2013 by the
protesters after giving provocation in New Delhi. The people who were gathered to register
their protest against the custodial death of Sudipto Gupta. The top leaders of
Left Front condemned the heckling of a minister. But the TMC hooligans in West
Bengal under the instruction of their party bosses made it a point and started
violent attacks on the workers of the CPI (M) and other Left parties. On 9th and 10th April, 2013, more than 1500
offices of CPI (M) and its mass organizations were vandalized. Even offices of
other Left parties were also attacked. In some places even Congress party
offices were not also spared. Attacks were unleashed against CPI (M) leaders,
several of them were ousted from home. The police as usual were busy in
protecting the hooligans. Thus several parts of the state were made “TMC-only
Zones” before the ensuing Panchayat polls.
Reign
of terror in Panchayat elections and Municipal polls
The
Left Front was not allowed to file nominations in more than 6000 seats in the
last Panchayat elections. They were brutally attacked almost everywhere during
the time of nomination paper filing. Even after that the LF candidates were
forced under gun points in some cases to
withdraw nomination papers; family members of the proposed opposition
candidates were abducted, beaten brutally. There was no scope to seek security
for the Opposition candidates. More than 3000 booths were captured in the five
phases of the Panchayat elections. People could not cast their votes freely.
The police did nothing to save 25 Left Front activists, including candidates,
who were murdered during the Panchayat elections by the TMC goons. Even the
election results were manipulated openly in counting stations. The State
personnel were just silent spectators. The looting of votes was so severe that
the State Election Commission administration has not been able to tally the
record of votes till date. This is unprecedented in the history of panchayet
elections in the state. The reign of terror continued even after the
declaration of results. The TMC goons further threatened and unleashed attack
on the elected members of the opposition even inside the government offices
during the time of formation of boards. CPI (M) leader Jahangir Alam, who was
elected President or Sabhapati of a Panchayat Samiti at Hasnabad in North
24-Parganas, was killed by the TMC miscreants to take control of the board.
Hasmat
Sheikh, CPI (M) leader and newly elected Panchayat Samiti member in Farakka
of Murshidabad district, was also
brutally killed by the TMC goons. Ranjit Mistri , CPI (M) leader and the newly
winning candidate of Narayanpur-I Gram Panchayat in Karimpur-II Block under
Nadia district was also murdered to take control of the Gram Panchayat. The
Kolkata High Court issued an order to the BDO of Haringhata, Nadia to explain
the situation that resulted in restricting forcibly the elected members to form
the board freely.
Such
cases of hooliganism were repeated in the Municipal polls in Bardhaman,
Chakdaha, Panihati and other places.
Democracy
is at stake even in Assembly
The
TMC Government is not ready to give due
importance to the State Assembly. Previously, when the Left Front government was at the helm, the
State Assembly was in session for not less than 60 days in a year on an
average. Now it has come down to 24-25 days per year. One can hardly recall the
absence of the Chief Minister during the question –answer session during the time
of the Left Front government. But the
present Chief Minister was present only once during question –answer session. She has given reply
to only one question in the assembly during the last two and a half years.
The
voice of the opposition is curbed on regular basis. The Left Front MLAs wanted
to move an adjourning motion demanding protection for the investors of Saradha
chit fund. But it was shocking to find that the Ministers and some of the TMC
MLAs retaliated violently. A woman member of CPI(M) and former Minister Deblina
Hembram was beaten up mercilessly. Gouranga Chatterjee, CPI (M) MLA, received
head injury. What is happening in West Bengal is once again revealed from the
fact that a judge in Alipore court had been
“forced” recently by a TMC leader to change the judgment.
The
State Government is forcibly enacting laws to centralize power. The democratic
rights of the people guaranteed during the Left Front rule are curtailed
undemocratically by the present government. This TMC-led Government is introducing
laws only for privileged sections of the society. They are snatching power of
the common people only to concentrate powers in the hands of the Ministers and bureaucrats.
Chit
fund scam
The
name of the Chief Minister and the TMC supremo is now linked with the Saradha
chit fund scam which is the biggest such scam in independent India. The money
invested by not less than one crore people is now vanished. The chit fund
company has evidently grown steadily under the direct patronage of the TMC leaders.
Even today the State Government has not attached the property of the chit fund
companies. The State Government, instead, are trying to befool the people of
the state in the name of so-called enquiries. The Chief Minister has no answer
why she is against a CBI probe of the scam under the supervision of the Supreme
Court. Why the State Government is not attaching the Saradah properties to pay
back investors? They have no answer.
Parade
of farmers’ suicide
During
last two and a half years of TMC rule, 90 farmers and agricultural laborers
have committed suicide facing the unbearable burden of loans. This quite new in
West Bengal, never happened during 34 years of Left Front government. The Left
Front Government used to collect paddy through cooperatives like BENFED, CONFED
and self- help groups. But the new state Government is not following the same
method. The farmers are now compelled to sale their crops to the middlemen at a
price much lower than the cost of production. Agricultural labourers are also
under crisis now. The people in the state are suffering from price hike of
essential items including foods. The TMC-led
Government is doing nothing. They are busy only with unleashing
state-sponsored terror tactics to suppress popular demands and putting up big
advertisements with tall claims and false statistics by wasting a huge public
fund.
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