West Bengal Left Front Leaders Meet Chief Minister

KOLKATA, 9^th June: A Left Front delegation met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on June 9, 2014 and demanded immediate halt to political violence in the state. The delegation, led by Left Front Chairman Biman Basu submitted a detailed account of attacks on Left Front workers and supporters throughout the state and demanded that the state administration takes appropriate steps to apprehend the culprits and ensure security of people.

The meeting with the Chief Minister in ‘Nabanna’, the new secretariat  lasted nearly one hour. Left leaders alleged that the miscreants of the ruling party have launched large-scale attacks after the elections. In many areas, hundreds of people have been forced to leave their homes. In many areas of the state houses have been destroyed and burnt, Party offices ransacked and shops forcefully seized. In many areas, agricultural land has been seized and peasants not allowed to cultivate their lands. During and after the election, 10 Left Front activists and supporters were killed and no action has been taken against the culprits. Moreover, the police are playing a blatantly partisan role. They are arresting or implicating the victims themselves in fabricated cases. More than five thousand Left workers and supporters have been booked in false cases. Police is pressuring elected Left panchayat members to resign or join the ruling party. Biman Basu categorically asked the Chief Minister, how this lawlessness could be allowed to continue.

The delegation submitted detailed reports of violence and atrocities in 17 districts of the state. They also submitted the list of 157 Left Front workers and supporters who have been killed after the TMC came to power.

Mamata Banerjee assured the delegation that she would look into the allegations. She did not give any specific assurance however about the action she proposes to take.

The Left delegation also raised the issue of protecting the democratic rights of the people and maintenance of communal harmony in the state.

Later Biman Basu told the media that Left Front would wait for some days to observe whether the administration takes any positive action or not. If it fails to do so, we will have to resort to bigger agitations on the streets, he said.